Rhodes A and B mock trial teams were crowned champions of the Grand Ole Tournament hosted by Vanderbilt University Nov. 10-11 in Nashville, TN. Also this weekend, Rhodes C and D mock trial teams won in their divisions at the MTSU Invitational in Murfreesboro, TN, and secured the competition’s giant gavel. These finishes make four total tournament victories this season, including wins at invitationals hosted by the University of Georgia and Washington University in October.
In Nashville, the Rhodes teams competed against some of the best teams in the country, including Brown University, Vanderbilt University, UT-Chattanooga, Washington University, UCLA, and Cornell College. Ashley Plunk ’19 was the top ranking witness in the field. Conner Hurley ’19 also picked up an Outstanding Witness award, and Daniel Elliott ’19 and Jeena Piriano ’20 were named Outstanding Attorneys.
At MTSU, Jackie Laxson ’21, Tofu Schmude ’20, and Sheridan Hardy ’22 were all Outstanding Witness award winners. JD Deming ’20 won an Outstanding Attorney award. The teams competed against Middle Tennessee State University, Auburn University, Davidson College, and University of Southern California, among others.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported us this season,” says Anna Eldridge, director of Rhodes Mock Trial. “So much of our success is also because of my incredible assistant coaching staff. We take a lot of pride in our ability to let everyone who wants to compete get the chance to travel. We would not be able to take all those students and turn them into champions without the dedicated alumni who volunteer their time to help coach. These students and alums are what make this program so special.”
The program has two more tournaments this fall. Members of the teams are:
Rhodes A: Kelsey McCLain and Daniel Elliott (captains), Turner Booth, Matthew Broussard, Roman Darker, Devin Dunkley, Emily English, Ethan Fox, Ashley Plunk, and Lillie Stephens
Rhodes B: Connor Hurley and Fisher Smith (captains), Brian Burgess, Matthew Busbice, Jess Gaughan, Richard Madden, Natalie Manoogian, Jeena Piriano, and Matthew Mussalli
Rhodes C: Grace Files and Tofu Schmude (captains), JD Deming, Emma Dale, Sheridan Hardy, Sam Justice, Blake Landon, Amelia Lindell, Ian McCormick, Jordan Richardson, Justin Terrell, and Madeleine Wright
Rhodes D: Jaclyn Flood (captain), Elizabeth Baldwin, Olivia Brown, Jemma Clary, Gabby Cox, Tinos Dragatsis, Miriam Ellis, Jacob Fontaine, Jackie Laxson, Emery Morales, Elizabeth McAninch, Nate Siler, and Sam Walter