Illinois State University’s student mock trial team returned from the American Mock Trial Association regional tournament with two awards in tow. This competition, held the third week in February in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and sponsored by Cornell College, wraps up the season for Illinois State’s mock trial team.
Illinois State seniors Aditya Bukkapatnam and Kelly Franklin both earned the designation Outstanding Witness. Bukkapatnam was the highest ranked witness of the tournament, garnering a score of 19 points. The next closest competitor earned 17 points.
Illinois State seniors Aditya Bukkapatnam and Kelly Franklin both earned the designation Outstanding Witness.
The team had a 4-4 record. It defeated adversaries from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and St. Ambrose University. They lost rounds to Cornell College and the University of Minnesota. The loss to Minnesota was by 1 point on both judge’s ballots.
In addition to Bukkapatnam and Franklin, 2016-17 team members include Bryce Becker, C.J. DeButch, Grace Hannon-Geller, Tara Klein, Ethan Lyons, Ann Stranges, and Totiana Sudduth.
The attorney coaches, Scott Kording and Tristan Bullington, are Bloomington attorneys in private practice. Professor Tom McClure is the educator coach of the team.
