The mock trial team kicked off another successful season. Redbird competitors snagged awards from each of the six fall tournaments.
The season opened with the Wheaton College Invitational. The team faced opponents from Benedictine university, Hillsdale College, and Northern Illinois. Senior Totiana Sudduth and Junior C.J. DeButch were recognized with Outstanding Witness Awards.
The team next competed at a three-round tournament organized by Bradley University. Senior Adi Bukkapatnam was named Outstanding Attorney. ISU faced teams from Drake and Quincy Universities.
Benedictine University hosted a fall tournament at which the Redbirds tied for the second best record of the tournament (six wins and two losses). After tie breakers were applied, ISU placed fourth. Three students earned awards. Senior Bryce Becker was an outstanding attorney, and junior Ann Stranges was named outstanding witness. Senior Kelly Franklin was a double award winner, garnering honors for outstanding attorney outstanding witness. The “mocking ‘birds” faced off against Ball State, Truman State, North Central, and DePaul.
Illinois State University put on its fifteenth annual mock trial invitational. Thirty-one teams from across the Midwest competed in this tournament. ISU ranked 13th with a 4-3-1 record. The birds competed against Wheaton College, Loras College, Northern Illinois University, and Eastern Kentucky University. Kelly Franklin was named Outstanding Witness.
The team traveled to Champaign for the Illini invitational and again garnered a 4-3-1 record. The Redbirds competed against Notre Dame, Minnesota, Hillsdale, and UI-Springfield. Kelly Franklin picked up her third outstanding witness award.
The final fall tournament was hosted by Lewis University. ISU faced Arkansas, Louisville, UIC, and Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The team went 5-2-1 and picked up third place. Kelly Franklin won her second outstanding attorney award for the season.
Students interested in completing on the mock trial team must take POL 283: Trial Advocacy. This course is being offered in the spring semester. If the class is closed, students should contact Professor McClure for an override.
