Mock Trial finishes strong season

Cornell College’s Mock Trial team went 3-5 at the national tournament on April 14 and 15, capping a strong season that saw the team win numerous individual and team awards.

More than 800 teams from across the country started the competition season in fall 2011, and Cornell’s team finished among the top 48 for the 2011-2012 season. At the national championship tournament Cornell College was the only school from Iowa and the school with the smallest student enrollment in the entire 48-team field.

Cornell sent one team to the national championship tournament, the third time in four years the program has made the championship tournament. In 2010 a Cornell team finished sixth in the nation. Both of the college’s mock trial teams earned bids to the opening round championship series for the second consecutive year.

At the national tournament, Cornell faced stiff competition from some of the best teams in the nation, and faced teams from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, defending national champion UCLA, Harvard, and the University of Illinois, Chicago. UT-Knoxville received an honorable mention, UCLA finished sixth, and Harvard finished second.

Students racked up individual honors this season, with Junior James Hoeffgen receiving outstanding attorney honors at  the regional and opening round tournaments; and first-year Leonard Schlanger receiving outstanding witness honors at the regional and opening round tournaments.

“We are delighted with all the success our mock trial program has had this competition season, and look forward to another great season in the fall,” said RJ Holmes-Leopold ’99, director of the Career Engagement Center.