Carthage Mock Trial wraps up its invitational season

Carthage Mock Trial completed its invitational season right here at home January 29-30. Proudly hosting the Dairyland Classic in the strange world of online court competition, Carthage Mock Trial succeeded in claiming a Dairyland Golden Cow Award for best attorney thanks to the individual ranking of Olivia Higgins ’22. (Congratulations Liv!).

Despite the uncertainty of the world in the midst of a pandemic, Carthage Mock Trial overcame every challenge presented this year. At their first invitational in November at Illinois State University, the team opened its season with an impressive 5-2-1 record to finish eighth out of 32 teams. One week later the team competed at the Indiana University/Purdue University Invitational earning a record of 4-4 and finishing in the top one-half of that 30 team tournament.

Originally planned as a traditional in-person tournament at the Racine County Courthouse, the Dairyland Classic had to be rapidly transformed into an online Zoom format due to Covid-related changes by the American Mock Trial Association. The upcoming Regional Tournament has moved online as well. Through thorough practice and pure adaptability, the team was able to pull together sound, video, and organized congruent behavior that limited the technological hiccups that tend to plague online competitions.

The team finished 3-5 in the Dairyland, but with three of the lost ballots being by a margin of just one point, the team is prepared and ready to secure a bid at Regionals, and move on to the Opening Round Championship Series of Nationals in March.

This year’s team members are:

• Jon Allen ’22 (Team Captain)
• Lillian Anderson ’25
• Christiana Buchino ’22
• David Budzisz ’22
• Karlee DeJesus ’24
• Anne Ewart ’22 (Team Captain)
• Olivia Higgins ’22
• Alicia Lederhaus ’23
• Michael Malyszek ’25
• Eva Menzia ’24
• Michaela Moore ’24

Mock Trial is a course in Criminal Justice (CRJ 3300) that is taught each fall by Professor Michael Phegley (MGT/MKT) and Attorney Margaret Zienkiewicz (MGT/MKT). In addition, Professor Art Cyr and the A. W. Clausen Center for World Business continue to provide support at each tournament and throughout the season.

Students of all majors are welcome to participate and may also take the course as an independent study. Students with questions or who are interested in joining next year’s team should contact Prof. Phegley at mphegley@carthage.edu.

Sponsoring Department, Office, or Organization:

Carthage College Mock Trial

For more information, contact:

Michael Phegley at mphegley@carthage.edu