Mock Trial competes at Nationals

The Cornell College Mock Trial team ended a successful season by competing in the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) National Championship Tournament April 4–7 in Philadelphia.

Mock Trial Coach Abbe Stensland said more than 700 mock trials teams start the season in September of each year and only the top 48 teams are invited to compete at Nationals. Just by qualifying for the tournament, Cornell Mock Trial is in the top 7% of mock trial teams, nationally.

During the tournament, Cornell competed against teams from the University of Florida, Columbia University, the University of Dayton, and Penn State.

“The tournament proved to be as challenging as ever,” Stensland said. “While we did not place in the top 10, we gained valuable experience that will serve this team, made up of one senior, one junior, two sophomores, and a remarkable three first-year students, and Cornell Mock for many years in the future.”

Orgho Neogi ’19, Jack Beaumaster ’20, Jack Bressett ’21, Maddie Huntzinger ’21, Alex Nelson ’22, Luke Poteat ’22, and Austen Raamot ’22 competed in nationals.

Raamot left the competition with the All American Witness Award. He’s one of only 30 students, nationally, to receive the honor and only the second student in Cornell’s Mock Trial program history. Stensland was proud to hear Raamot thank the two attorneys who helped him achieve this goal.

“I am proud of the many accolades that our mock trial team has received, but I am even more proud that we are producing good people and good teammates,” Stensland said.

Cornell College Mock Trial has had tremendous success since its founding in 2006. In addition to this year, the team has qualified for the AMTA National Championship Tournament in 2009, 2010, and from 2013 through 2016.