For the second year in a row, the University's Collegiate Mock Trial team defeated Harvard for the American Mock Trial Association National Championship Sunday in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The team completed competition with an undefeated record, said Dr. Sara Zeigler, president-elect of the American Mock Trial Association.
Beginning work in August, mock trial teams participate in regional competitions throughout the year. According to Zeigler, only the top 11 percent of teams in the country make it to the national championship.
In the mock trial competitions, teams consisting of two or three individuals argue a given trial scenario before a judge and jury. Participants are ranked by mock trial judges and ranks are tabulated at the end of the day to determine the winner.
Zeigler cited the team's hard work and young coaches as components of the University's "strong program."
Two University teams competed, with the second team placing sixth in the tournament, according to head coachRyan Faulconer.
Fourth-year College students Daniel Young and Mostafa Abdelkarim won All-American awards, given only to the top 10 to 15 competitors, Faulconer said.
Young, who is president of the mock trial team, competed as an attorney and Vice President Abdelkarim acted as a witness to a shooting.
Young identified team unity as a factor in the team's success.
"Truly top teams introduce a level of teamwork that is very evident," Young said.
The team won six out of their eight competitions during the season and defeated Stanford University, University of Toledo, Columbia University, the University of California, Los Angeles and Harvard University in the national tournament.
Faulconer said the team's convincing and laidback style made the team appealing to the judges.
After the team's national championship last year, the number of students who tried out for mock trial increased this year, leading to a more competitive selection process, according to Young.
"We needed some success to breed success," Young said.
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