March 1, 2019

Mock trial team finishes year at regionals

UW-Superior mock trial team 2018-2019 including (front row) Alex DeBlaey and Jeb Leone; (second row) Arabella Gigliotti, Kenneth Benz, Autumn Bass, Julian Williams, Desiray Matthews, Scott Holmes. Not pictured, coach Cassy Burr.

The team finished the tournament with a 3-4-1 record

UW-Superior’s mock trial team competed at the American Mock Trial Association Regionals with 32 other collegiate teams the weekend of February 22-24, 2019. Hamline University hosted the nationally endorsed regional tournament. They were a tournament leader until the last round where they received close losses and missed the chance to compete at the ORCS level national tournament.

Scott Holmes earned an Outstanding Witness Award as a top regional performer. Julian Williams earned an Outstanding Attorney award as a top attorney performer. This means that Holmes and Williams were among the top 10-percent of students at this tournament with over 250 competing mock trial competitors.

Scott Holmes and Julian Williams

The following team members earned Outstanding Witness nominations on individual ballots: Desiray Matthews, Holmes, Jeb Leone, Autumn Bass, and Williams. Members earning Outstanding Attorney nominations on individual ballots include: Autumn Bass, Williams, Jeb Leone, Kenneth Benz, and Arabella Gigliotti. Alex DeBlaey rounded out the attorney complement of mockers.

The team finished the tournament with a 3-4-1 record.

Mock trial is coached by Maria Stalzer Wyant Cuzzo (Professor of Legal Studies), Eric Burr (former national-level UWS mock trial team member) and Cassy Burr (former regionally recognized mock trial team member). Burr and Burr are returning alumni that volunteer hundreds of hours back to teaching and coaching mock trial. The team also receives assistance from Douglas County District Attorney Mark Fruehauf, local attorney Jaramy Hansen, Theater faculty member Cathy Fank and dozens of attorneys and judges throughout the region.

Mock trial is an undergraduate learning activity that teaches students how to analyze, design, present and defend a case to the trial court. This year’s national case from the American Mock Trial Association was a civil case involve negligence. Next year’s case will be a criminal case. UW-Superior has been a member of the American Mock Trial Association for over 25 years. Cuzzo marked her 25^th anniversary coaching mock trial this year.