MOUNT VERNON – The Cornell College Mock Trial team qualified for its first ever Opening Round Championship Series of the American Mock Trial Association over the weekend by finishing 6-2 at the regional tournament in Davenport.
Juniors Annika Strobom and Madeline Roche and sophomore Eli Wade-Scott all received individual awards as well.
Cornell’s Team 1026 defeated St. Ambrose University and the University of Illinois, and split decisions with the University of Iowa and Grinnell College. The Rams will now compete in the Opening Round of the Championship Series in Kansas City, Mo., March 13-15.
“This has been a three-year-in-the-making achievement for the program, and I am very proud of them,” said Mock Trial Coach Kristofer Lyons. “We are looking forward to Kansas City, and hope to continue to build on our success to make the Championship Tournament in April.”
Strombom was honored as an All Regional Attorney, while Roche and Wade-Scott were named All Regional Witnesses. Strombom was an attorney for the plantiff, and earned a perfect score. Roche portrayed a death investigator who spoke to the press too soon, and Wade Scott played politician Drew Walton.
“I am especially proud of Eli, Madeline and Annika, for all three to win awards, on the same side of the case, just shows how strong they have become,” said Lyons.
Team 1026 is captained by Strombom ’10 and Roche ’10, and consists of Nicholas Wondra ’09, Kyle Blesener ’10, Kasun Wijegunawardana ’10, Nedah Zamani ’10, and Wade-Scott ’11.