Holy Cross Mock Trial Team Finishes 6th in Ivy League Tournament

WORCESTER, Mass. – A Holy Cross Mock Trial Team placed sixth out of 55 teams from over 30 colleges and universities that competed in the Ivy League Mock Trial Invitational Tournament, held Nov. 9–10 at Yale University.

Participating were the universities from the Ivy League, as well as Amherst, U.C. Berkeley, Boston College, George Washington, Georgetown, Hobart, Holy Cross and Johns Hopkins.

Holy Cross sent three teams to the tournament, and one finished in 6th place overall with a 3-1 record. The team was comprised of Monica Del Rio '02, Chris Hirl '03, Joel Smith '03, Eric Tosi '03, Cecilia Kelly '04, John "Southie" O'Donnell '04, Matt Pieraldi '04 and Noah McPike '05. O'Donnell, team captain, was the fourth-rated attorney out of over 200 participants.

The second team finished with a 2-1-1 record, just out of the top ten. The team was comprised of Liz Crowley '02, Meghan McNamara '02, Erin Hickey '03, Erin Tierneyand '03, John "Riff" Steffy '04, Victoria AuFerro '05 and Adam Zybluweski '05.

The third team, new to competition this year, was comprised of Shauna Crehan '04, Heather Stanga '04, John Cantwell '05, Ruth Demeter '05, Amanda DeVuono '05, Jared Hasten '05, Keara Martin '05 and Rian Romeo '05.

Started in the fall of 1997 at Holy Cross, Mock Trial is an opportunity for undergraduate students to learn about trial techniques used by lawyers in the courtroom. Teams consist of six to eight students who take on the roles of attorneys and witnesses in a simulated court case. Participants gain experience and knowledge in areas such as the stages of a trial, how to argue objections, and how to direct and cross-examine a witness.

The Holy Cross Mock Trial team finished sixth out of 393 teams at the National Intercollegiate Mock Trial Tournament last spring, and was honored with "The Spirit of Mock Trial," a major award to the team that "embodies civility and fair play and the ideals of the practice of law."