Elon Mock Trial advances to championship series in March

Elon Mock Trial placed 5th out of 24 teams at the American Mock Trial Association’s 2009 Regional Tournament from Feb. 6-7 in Chapel Hill, N.C., qualifying the undergraduate team for competition at Furman University next month in the opening round of a national contest.

BACK ROW, L-R: Amanda Haefner ’09 and Carolyn Baumgarten ’11. FRONT ROW, L-R: William Warihay ’07, ’10G (coach), Jon Keller ’11, Lauren Nichols ’09, Kate Hopkins ’10 and Allison Carter ’09.

Coached by Elon Law student William Warihay, a 2007 Elon alum, the undergraduate team competed in Chapel Hill against teams from the University of South Carolina, Duke University, the University of North Carolina, Wake Forest University and Furman University, among others, in compiling its 5-2-1 record.

The team also received the Spirit of AMTA award, which is given to the team at the tournament that best exemplifies the goals and ideals of civility and fair play in the court room. This award is voted on by the peer competitors at the tournament. Elon senior Allison Carter was recognized as the top All-Region Attorney for the tournament.

The top 8 teams at the tournament, including Elon, received bids to the Opening Round Championship Tournament at Furman where 24 teams will compete for a chance to enter the American Mock Trial Associations National Championship Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa, in April. Only the top six teams advance.

The Elon team at Chapel Hill was composed of the following students:

Allison Carter ’09
Lauren Nichols ’09
Amanda Haefner ’09
Kathryn Hopkins ’10
Carolyn Baumgarten ’11
Jon Keller ’11

Elon Mock Trial is coached by:

William Warihay ’07 and current Elon Law student
Matrice Mebane-Williams, Esq. (Adjunct Political Science Professor)

The complete list of teams at the tournament is:

Appalachian State University
Bob Jones University
University of Central Florida
The Citadel
Duke University
Davidson
Elon University
Furman University
University of Georgia
Lee University
University of North Carolina
Shaw University
University of South Carolina
University of Tennessee
Wake Forest University
Washington and Lee University

– Submitted by William Warihay ‘07