ULM Mock Trial team advances to national championship for 6th year

For the sixth straight year, the University of Louisiana Monroe finished as one the top teams at the American Mock Trial Association’s Regional Tournament hosted by the University of St. Thomas on Feb. 8-9 in Houston.

The result qualifies the Gold and Maroon squad for the Opening Round Championship Series hosted by Rhodes College in Memphis on March 20-22. This is the second straight year that two squads from ULM have simultaneously qualified for ORCS, as ULM is the only university from Louisiana to qualify for the opening round of the national championship in each of the last six years.

The Gold squad finished third overall at regionals with a 6-1-1 record, defeating Rice University, Texas A&M University, Millsaps College and Tulane University. Emma Brunel, a witness for the Gold squad, won a best witness award.

Competing for the Gold squad were Isiah Chavis, (senior, Layette), Cameron Ott (senior, West Monroe), Uchechi Owunna (sophomore, Nigeria), Nautica Jones (sophomore, St. Martinville), Aakriti Pant (sophomore, Nepal), Lydia Mills (senior, Shreveport), Lydia Mire (sophomore, Rayne), Brunel (senior, France, and Halli Declouet (junior, Lafayette).

Monroe attorney Bob Noel, who founded the ULM Mock Trial team and serves as a coach along with attorney Kyle Moore, said, “Our students worked hard all year with the goal of qualifying for ORCS. In spite of some adversity, they never quit and continued to get better. This result combined with our national ranking demonstrates that ULM is one of the best teams in the nation.”

More than 900 teams competed in regional tournaments, but less than 200 advanced to ORCS.

“Patience and hard work pays off. We did not dominate every tournament this year, but we hit our stride when it counts," Chavis said. "I am honored to be the captain of a team full of talent, with a great work ethic that trusts each other. There is no doubt in my mind that we are capable of doing something really special this year at ORCs.”

Brunel said the team was frustrated at the past few tournaments because they didn't think they were meeting their full potential. At regionals, she said, they were more confident and prepared.

 “This competition had its ups and downs and there were times when we did not think we would qualify; however, in the end, we never quit, we stuck to our strategy, and we won,” said Mills.

The Maroon squad advanced with a 6-2 record, defeating Louisiana State University, University of Houston and Houston Baptist University, after an opening round loss to Baylor University.

Representing ULM’s Maroon squad were Olivia Myers (senior, West Monroe), Shelby Joyner (senior, West Monroe), Evan Hebert (senior, Monroe), Rebecca Pittman (junior, Vivian), Gabbriella Gill (junior, Rayville), Andrea Hernandez (senior, West Monroe), and Ethan Estis (freshman, Rayville).

"Finishing 6-2 showcased our resiliency," Joyner said. "We started by losing to the toughest team and falling to the bottom of the rankings, but were able to work our way back to earning an open bid. Gabbriella and Rebecca really shined this weekend by getting best witness awards, but everyone on our team stepped up. We worked as an entire unit, made changes as we went along, and worked through our mistakes to improve. Constant optimism and support from everyone paired with long hours of practice got us through this weekend."

She said she's honored to have led this team the past three years and can’t wait to see what the program does in the future.

Pittman said, “A common misconception regarding Mock Trial is that it is simply just another college debate team; however, it is so much more than that. ULM Mock Trial is a family. Bonds have grown between every single member of the team; there is endless love and support.”

"In the past year of being on mock trial at ULM, I have learned many things. The first is confidence and poise," Gill said.  The members of this team seek challenges and supporting each other to achieving their goals. I owe everything I have learned from my team and my coach, Kyle Moore. The greatest feeling is not receiving an award, but seeing how proud and loud my team and coach are for receiving the award.

"At the end of the day, we all put in hard work and dedication. I have never had a bigger support system or family as I do now, thanks to ULM Mock Trial.”

ULM is the only university in the state of Louisiana that has fielded an active AMTA-affiliated mock trial team for the past seven years; the only university in the state to have competed at the Opening Round Championship Series of the AMTA National Championship the last six.

The American Mock Trial Association was founded in 1985 and is the governing body for intercollegiate mock trial competition.

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