Mock Trial team wins second consecutive tournament

One of the Cornell College Mock Trial Team’s three squads won first place at the Illinois State Invitational held Nov. 2 through 4.

In a field that included nationally ranked Miami University of Ohio, Loyola University, Ohio State, and Michigan State, the white squad, consisting of Tim Bingham, Claire McGuire, Kahn Branch, Sarah Bertschy, Gwen Morrison, Micah Hawker-Boehnke, Laurel Fraser, and Sam Stacy, took home top team honors, placing first in a field of 30 teams with a record of 7 wins and 1 loss.

Newcomer Maria Goodfellow was the only Cornellian to take home individual honors, earning a perfect 20 for her portrayal of Dr. Montgomery, an expert in the field of medicine and diving.  Maria was the only witness at the tournament to be awarded a perfect score for her performance.

One of Cornell’s squads will compete at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Nov. 9 and 10, while the other two squads will take a week off  in preparation for a tournament at the University of Iowa on Nov. 17 and 18.

The Cornell College Mock Trial Team is a project of the college’s Center for Law and Society. Now in its seventh year, the team has been to the national championship tournament three out of the past four years. In 2010 the team placed sixth in the nation.