The recent NCAA men’s basketball championship isn’t the only competition making news these days. Rhodes College Mock Trial Team A emerged as runner-up at the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) National Championship Tournament, after going up against Yale University. A total of 48 teams—two from Rhodes—competed April 4-7 in Philadelphia, PA.
“This season marked our 33rd trip to the National Championship Tournament and our seventh consecutive time qualifying two teams. Both are records that no other program has come close to,” says Anna Eldridge, director of mock trial. “We broke our own record by appearing in a ninth Championship Final Round.”
Also according to Eldridge, it is highly anticipated that Rhodes will be ranked No. 1 in the nation—edging out both Yale University and University of Virginia—when AMTA’s Team Power Rankings are released. The post season rankings are based on each team’s respective performance in Opening Round Championship Series and National Championship rounds in the previous three seasons.
Each year at the national finals, AMTA awards All-American honors to the best attorneys and witnesses. All of the members of the Rhodes A team earned All-American status as participants in the Championship Final Round. They are:
Matthew Broussard
Matthew Busbice
Roman Darker
Devin Dunkley
Daniel Elliott (Rhodes A Captain, All-American Attorney)
Emily English
Ethan Fox
Kelsey McClain (Rhodes A Captain, All-American Attorney)
Ashley Plunk
Lillie Stephens
Other mock trial members from Rhodes who went to the national finals include:
Elizabeth Baldwin
Turner Booth
JD Deming
Grace Files
Jaclyn Flood
Jess Gaughan
Sheridan Hardy
Connor Hurley (Rhodes B Captain, All-American Witness)
Sam Justice
Jackie Laxson
Richard Madden (Rhodes B Captain)
Natalie Manoogian
Jeena Piriano
“I also thank seniors Ian McCormick and Jamarr McCain, who have worked with the program for four years,” says Eldridge. “I am particularly honored to work with students who devote so much time and dedication to mock trial, in addition to their studies and so many other activities across campus.”