Eclipsing squads from Notre Dame University and Northwestern University, among others, a mock trial team from Eastern Kentucky University brought back the first-place trophy from the Great Lakes Mock Trial Invitational in snowy Ypsilanti, Michigan, Nov. 21-22.
For the first time in the program’s history, EKU went a perfect 8-0 in a tournament. Eastern took both ballots in each of four rounds against Notre Dame, Northwestern, Hillsdale College and the University of Pittsburgh.
EKU’s historic effort also brought home multiple individual awards. Ryan Wiggins, a freshman criminal justice and psychology double major from Georgetown, was the top-ranking witness in the tournament, earning a perfect 20 rank and an Outstanding Witness Award. Maiya Lane, a freshman criminal justice major from Louisville, also earned an Outstanding Witness Award. Matt Boggs, a senior political Science and history double major from Whitesburg, earned Outstanding Attorney Awards on both the prosecution and defense sides of the case.
Other members of EKU’s tournament-winning team included Allie Maples, a political science major from Mount Sterling; Sean Potter, a political science major from Whitesburg; and Andrena Mounce, a biology and chemistry double major from Berea. Boggs and Maples are members of EKU Honors.
EKU’s second squad at the tournament also performed well, going 4-4 and recording impressive wins against Iowa State University and Northwood University. Members of that squad included Mackenzie DeSpain, Omar Salinas-Chacón, Laura Jackson, Sophia Chan, Caridad Echevarría and Erica Madden. Salinas-Chacón, Jackson and Echevarría are also members of EKU Honors.
Faculty and staff assisting with the program include Thomas Parker, Lynnette Noblitt, Brandon Williams, Kristeena Johnson and Dean Sara Zeigler.
EKU Mock Trial is looking to add more students for the spring season, which begins Jan. 16-17 in Chicago. Interested students should, as soon as possible, contact Program Coordinator Thomas Parker at thomas.parker@eku.edu.