Mock Trial advances to the 2020 Opening Round Championship Series

Carthage’s Mock Trial Team will advance to the Opening Round Championship Series (ORCS) for the second consecutive year and for the third time in the past five years. 

Carthage Red won five of their eight ballots at the Minneapolis Regional the weekend of Feb. 21-23 and finished 8th in the 26-team tournament to secure the final bid from Minneapolis. Carthage Black just missed a separate bid finishing tied for 10th. Anne Ewart ’22 and Ashley Castillo ’23 placed first on three of their four ballots, narrowly missing awards for best attorney and best witness respectively.

Nine of the team’s 13 members had never before participated in Mock Trial at any level prior to this season. Carthage’s teams finished 18th and 20th out of 22 teams at their first tournament of the season last October. Both teams worked throughout the fall semester, during J-Term and into last weekend to secure the bid to ORCS. Their hard work and commitment cannot be overstated.

The team will now combine talent for ORCS the weekend of March 6-8 in Cincinnati,
Ohio. Carthage Red captains are Elizabeth Stroh ’21 and Braden Kundert ’22. Carthage Black captains are Kaitlyn Richardson ’21 and Anne Ewart ’22.

This year’s team members are:

Carthage Red                      Carthage Black

Jonathan Allen ’22                Ashley Castillo ’23 
Liv Higgins ’23                      Kayle Czischki ’23
Braden Kundert ’21 **           Anne Ewart ’22 **
Samantha Martinez ’20         Angel Green ’21
Micah Pahl ’21                      Alexis Lalonde ’23
Elizabeth Stroh ’21 **            Kaitlyn Richardson ’21 **
Claire Severt ’22                   Jada Stephens ’21                                                     

** Denotes team captains

The team is coached by Professor Michael Phegley, with the assistance of Kenosha County Court Commissioner Loren Keating and attorney Margaret Johnson. Maham Ali ’19 and Joshua Kundert ’19 are graduate assistant coaches. Professor Martin McClendon worked with the team’s witnesses, and Professor Helene DeGross also assisted the team. Additionally, Professor Art Cyr and the A. W. Clausen Center for World Business continue to provide support at each tournament and throughout the season.

Mock Trial is a course in Criminal Justice (CRJ 3300), which is taught each fall by Prof. Phegley. Students of all majors are welcome to participate.

Students interested in joining next year’s team should contact Prof. Phegley at mphegley@carthage.edu.

SPONSORING DEPARTMENT, OFFICE, OR ORGANIZATION:

Mock Trial

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Professor Mike Phegley mphegley@carthage.edu