UWS Mock Trial team advances to nationals

A University of Wisconsin-Superior Mock Trial team placed fourth last weekend in the Upper Midwest Durst Memorial Tournament in Superior, earning a berth in the opening round of championship competition next month in Illinois.

UWS’ Black Team earned 6 wins, 1 loss and 1 tie in a highly competitive field of 24 teams during the regional tournament hosted at UWS.

UWS’ Mark Wick was one of two attorneys to score a perfect 20 points in the tournament to win a coveted Outstanding Attorney award on the prosecution side. Jeff Anderson continued his perfect winning streak (18 on prosecution and 17 on defense) as the only double side Outstanding Witness winner at the tournament.

Mock Trial is an academic forensic activity that teaches students how to analyze the law and facts of a case, and to argue and present cases in a trial court. Many of the participating students are majoring in UWS’ Legal Studies or Criminal Justice programs. UWS belongs to the American Mock Trial Association and is one of more than 350 universities in the country that take part in mock trial competition.

Most of UWS’ team members earned Outstanding Attorney or Outstanding Witness individual nominations during at least one round of competition. Members of the Black Team include Jeff Anderson of Frederic, Wis.; Brandt Devich of Buhl, Minn.; Alicia Kline of Reedsburg, Wis.; Jake Lindberg of Superior; Samantha Meyers of Rice Lake, Wis., Taylor Tengwall of Sandstone, Minn.; Yer Vang of Superior; and Mark Wick of Foxboro, Wis.

UWS’ Black Team now advances to the Opening Round Championship Series AMTA Tournament set for March 9-11 in Waukegan, Ill. That tournament brings together 24 top teams from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan to compete for six coveted slots to the National Mock Trial tournament in St. Paul in April.

The mock trial teams are coached by Maria Cuzzo of the Legal Studies program; Tracy Schramm, of the Bateman and Schramm Law Firm; Mark Fruehauf, Douglas County assistant district attorney; and Julie Johnson Benfield, Sixth Judicial District Court clerk. Schramm and Benfield are mock trial alumni from UWS who are now practicing attorneys.

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