The final update of the Fall 2024 semester for UMBC Mock Trial reflects that both "stacked" teams - UMBC A and UMBC B - were in action this past weekend, and they both had outstanding finishes to wrap up one of the most successful fall semesters in program history.

UMBC A traveled to Columbia University for the Columbia University Big Apple Invitational Tournament (CUBAIT), widely recognized as one of the nation's elite invitational tournaments. Despite being shorthanded due to a few competitors who were ill, UMBC A rose to the challenge and went undefeated at CUBAIT, earning second place and not losing a single ballot! UMBC A only missed out on first place by a strength of schedule tiebreak, and swept teams from Fordham University, the University of Wisconsin, American University, and the University of Maryland. President Fadil Adeite was named an Outstanding Attorney on both sides of the case - his third consecutive tournament earning double-sided awards - and Treasurer Nathan Yates was named an Outstanding Witness on both sides of the case as well. 

UMBC B was also on the road, as they traveled to Dickinson College for the Green Devil Napping Tie Scrimmage Tournament. While this scrimmage tournament did not have "places" because it was designed to give teams extra practice, UMBC B still had an outstanding weekend. They won three of their four trials, which would have easily meant placing at a normal tournament, and they also earned two individual awards! Team co-captain Gracin O'Connor was named an Outstanding Witness and Destiny Russell was named an Outstanding Attorney. 

This weekend finishes a remarkable fall campaign for UMBC Mock Trial, including seven team awards:

In addition to these team awards, UMBC competitors won fifteen individual awards over the fall semester, an average of over two per tournament. 

UMBC Mock Trial couldn't wrap up the fall semester without shouting out Head Coach Thomas Azari '22, who has continued to coach and lead our program despite being a first-year law student at Maryland Carey Law. His support, along with that of Chichi Ukeje '23, Natalie Murray '22, and Faculty Advisor Ben Garmoe '13, has helped students and student leaders grow and succeed during this remarkable run of success. 

UMBC Mock Trial now turns their focus to January invitationals and Regionals in February, where they begin their quest to return to the National Championship Tournament in April. UMBC Mock Trial has qualified for Nationals in six of the last eight seasons, and are confident that the spring will bring even more success. Thank you as always to all of you for your continued support!