On Sunday night, the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) wrapped up its Boston College Regional tournament. For the first time in program history, Trinity finished this weekend with a first-place record, winning 7 ballots, losing 0, and tying 1. Trinity officially ended as the second-place team, beat only by a few CS (combined strength) points by Columbia University, who also had a record of 7-0-1.
Each year, AMTA sends over 700 competing schools to different locations across the country for the first-round Regional tournament. Each year, Trinity Mock Trial has proved itself small but mighty – every Trinity Regional team since the program’s inception in 2008 has moved past this round to the Opening Round Championship Series, or semi-finals. To put this in perspective, only the top seven out of each Regional can advance.
This year, Trinity was assigned to the Boston College Regional. Eight Trinity students who have been preparing the same case problem since August traveled to Boston for the first official tournament of the season. Priya Vaishamprayan ’18, Emily Sullivan ’17, Richard Pizzano ’17, Julia Mardeusz ’16, Bobby Boyle ’16, Katherine Feehan ’16, Ursula Petersen ’15, and Youlan Xiu ’15 had to win at least five out of eight ballots to advance. Because each round consisted of two scoring judges, at least five out of the eight judges who scored each team had to designate you the winner.
During each round, Trinity Mock Trial proved that they were serious contenders. On Saturday and Sunday, Trinity took on Gordon College, Columbia University, Boston College, and UMass Amherst. Tying only one ballot with Columbia, Trinity took both ballots in all other rounds.
Following their performance this weekend, Trinity Mock Trial will be headed to the Opening Round Championship Series in Washington, DC in March. If Trinity finishes in the top 6 in DC, they will earn a bid to the National Championship where they will compete among the top 48 teams in the nation.
(From left to right) Julia Mardeusz, Bobby Boyle, Priya Vaishampayan, Katherine Feehan, Youlan Xiu, Ursula Petersen, Richard Pizzano, and Emily Sullivan.