MOORHEAD – On Nov. 18 and 19, Concordia’s Mock Trial team began their season at St. Olaf’s Ole Open Invitational, placing fifth overall out of 14 teams from colleges across the country.
The team competed in four rounds of trial simulation regarding this year’s case about an art heist.
The team competed against Winona State, the University of Minnesota Duluth, the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire across the four rounds of tournament.
The first and second place spots were filled by two teams from the University of Southern California, while third and fourth place were held by Drake University and Bethany Lutheran College, respectively.
Concordia’s team got fifth place. Their success marks the first time they’ve placed in a tournament since Concordia’s Mock Trial program restarted in 2018.
Concordia’s program originally ran from 1990 to 2015, advised by Concordia’s Dr. Max Richardson. After his retirement in 2015, the team didn’t start up again until 2018, when it was re-established by professors Vincent Arnold and Rebecca Moore, Arnold said.
The team is currently led by first-year coach, Brittany Davila, and two captains, senior Lauren Melton and junior Grace Halvorson. Together with seven other teammates, the team achieved the strongest season opener in the history of Concordia Mock Trial.
The team’s success was extra special due to their late start – most schools start preparing for the season in late Aug., while Concordia’s team didn’t hold their first practice until the first Sunday in Oct., Halvorson said.
The team underwent a lot of pre-season changes prior to their start date: a new coach, a lot of new members and a lot of members transitioning to different positions and roles within the team, Halvorson said.
“We got to go to St. Olaf, it was very fun, and we got our first team trophy in years,” Halvorson said.
Sophomore team member, Anthony Berndt, said that the team was nervous going into their first tournament due to the complex case.
“With thirty different pieces of evidence, eleven witnesses, and two defendants with ten different possible charges, this case has a lot to be prepared for,” Berndt said, “As a team, we have to be prepared for anything, and we have to think quickly on our feet if something unexpected happens.”
Berndt also said that the team’s new coach has eased various worries that the team has had so far. “She has been a fantastic addition to the team, and she has big plans for the future of the program,” he said.
Coach Brittany Davila said that as she has progressed through her first season, she’s been grateful for her team’s tenacious dynamic, engagement at practices, and constant support for one another.
“I’m really thankful that the students were eager and willing to put in the work,” Davila said, referring to their preparation for the Ole Open, “because the outcome was very good.”
Davila explained that the top four attorneys and top four witnesses of each round are ranked by the judges, and at the end of the tournament, the students with the most rankings receive awards for “outstanding attorney” and “outstanding witness.”
On Concordia’s team, three students were awarded the honors. Captains Melton and Halvorson were both awarded “outstanding attorney,” with Halvorson receiving a perfect score for her performance as a prosecution attorney.
Sophomore Caroline Becker, who is also a first-year Mock Trial participant, was awarded “outstanding witness.”
Davila said that she was very satisfied with three of her students being recognized for their outstanding performances out of the hundreds of students there.
“To have that kind of recognition was very encouraging, very exciting, and the students put in so much great work,” Davila said, “it was wonderful to be able to celebrate with them.”
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