Clark Mock Trial advances to subnational tournament

Clark University’s intercollegiate mock trial A team has won a bid to the subnational mock trial tournament to be held in mid-March. The team finished with a 6–6 record at the tournament, competing against teams from the University of Cincinnati, Michigan State, Ohio University, and Seton Hall. Colleen Falconer won a Best Attorney award at the subnational tournament.

Clark’s A team and B team competed in separate virtual regional tournaments Feb. 13 and 14. The virtual format allowed them to compete against teams from across the country that Clark normally wouldn’t face in live regionals.

The A team earned a 6–2 record, coming in second to undefeated Northwestern University in the 22-team tournament. Clark A won two ballots from Loyola Marymount and UC Davis, while splitting ballots with Trinity University (Texas) and La Salle University. Captain Colleen Falconer ’22 won a Best Attorney award at the regional tournament, while Chloe Tomblin ’23 won two Best Witness awards, one for being a witness on the plaintiff side and one for being a witness on the defendant side. Tomblin was the only student at the tournament to win two Best Witness awards.

The B team achieved a 3–5 record at their regional tournament. They competed against Central College (Iowa), Drexel University, Catholic University, and Michigan State. An undefeated team from Notre Dame took the regional tournament.

The Clark teams are coached by Steve Kennedy ’88.

Prior to their regional competitions, the teams participated in a variety of invitational tournaments and scrimmages. For the invitationals, students from both the A and B teams competed together as a single entry.

In January, a group of Clark students competed in a tournament hosted by UMass Amherst. Compiling a 3–4–1 record, the Clark team took two ballots from Amherst College and one ballot from Binghamton University. The team also competed against Fordham University and the University of South Carolina, with Falconer winning a Best Attorney award. Also in January, Clark competed in a series of scrimmages hosted by the College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York.

In the fall of 2020, the Clark team competed in a tournament hosted by Pace University. Clark amassed a 5–3 record for a sixth-place finish, taking two ballots from one team from Trinity University and one ballot from the other Trinity team. Clark also won two ballots from SUNY Buffalo, but lost both ballots to Lehigh University. Ezra Schrader ’24 won a Best Attorney award.

Clark also competed in a November tournament hosted by Florida State University. Clark earned a 3-5 record, splitting ballots with teams from Iona College, Drake University, and SUNY Genesco. Clark lost two ballots to Furman University. MIT won the tournament.

Clark A team members are: Colleen Falconer ’22 (captain), Josie Fitzgerald ’23 (captain), Victoria Kuzma ’24, Ezra Schrader ’24, Chloe Tomblin ’23, Aaron Wolfson ’21, and Annie (Ann) Zimmerman ’24. Falconer is a member of the American Mock Trial Association Student Advisory Board.

Clark B team members are: Erin Mouradian ’23 (captain), Glory Phipps ’23 (captain), Adam Cohen ’23, Grace Dowling ’24, Rachael Howe ’21, Isabel Jardiniano ’23, Will Mahan ’23, and Maxwell Redding ’22.