A University of Wisconsin-Superior mock trial team advances to the opening round of national championship competition in March.
UWS' Team 1001 placed fourth in a field of 20 teams at the Durst Memorial Upper Midwest Regional tournament held Feb. 12-14 at UWS. The region in which the campus competes is widely regarded within the American Mock Trial Association as one of the most competitive in the country. The top eight teams in that competition earned a berth at the Opening Championship Tournament March 19-21 in St. Paul.
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 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.
UWS students Christine Eidmann of Herbstein, Germany, and Kayannda Davis of Hudson, Wis., won Outstanding Witness awards for their characterizations of key witnesses in the trial. Eric Albertson of Duluth won an Outstanding Attorney award for his high level of attorney performance on both prosecution and defense sides of the case.
Other team members include Lela Akiashvili of Georgia; Cassandra Foltz of Detroit Lakes, Minn.; Alicia Kline of Reedsburg, Wis.; Caleb Nicholson of Mellen, Wis.; Katlyn Shipley of Duluth; Taylor Tengwall of Sandstone, Minn.; Robert Young of Duluth; and George Zuchowski of Foxboro, Wis.
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The team is coached by Dr. Maria Cuzzo, academic coach; Tracy Schramm, attorney coach and partner in the Reyelts and Bateman Law Firm in Duluth; and Mary Russell, assistant coach.
If the UWS team is successful in St. Paul, it will move on to the Championship Tournament in Memphis in April.
