Juniata College Mock Trial Team Earns Bid for National Playoffs
(Posted March 9, 2022)
Photo by Candice Hersh
Photo by Candice Hersh
HUNTINGDON, Pa. —Juniata College’s Mock Trial team will take their case to the National Playoffs of the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) as this impressive team has each of its four years of competition.
Following a successful Regional Playoff weekend, the “Legal Eagles” have earned a bid to compete in the Opening Round Playoffs in Cincinnati, Ohio, Friday, March 18, through Sunday, March 20.
“I am very proud of our student team members who have continued our tradition of advancing to the National Playoffs each year,” said Attorney and Mock Trial team coach David Andrews ’74. “They work all year from August to achieve this goal, and they will be giving up their Spring Break for this opportunity to compete in Cincinnati.”
At the National Playoffs in Cincinnati, Ohio, Juniata will join teams including Georgetown University; University of Pennsylvania; University of Michigan; Michigan State University; University of Massachusetts at Amherst; University of Illinois; University of Maryland, Baltimore County; and Penn State University.
Captains Dan Cummins ’22 of Clarks Summit, Pa., and Sarah Cook ’23 of State College, Pa., will lead their teammates, Nattie Daversa ’23 of Altoona, Pa., Francesca Satiro ’25 of Ronks, Pa., Emerson Strawser ’25 of Harrisburg, Pa., Quintin Ioime ’23 of Hamden, Ct., Brenna Haggerty ’24 of Boiling Springs, Pa., Alex Sanna ’24 of Hummelstown, Pa., Olivia Day ’23 of Duncansville, Pa., Shea Langille ’24 of Stewartstown, Pa., Kyle Boyer ’24 of Lewistown, Pa., Vanessa Alvarez ’25 of Ramsey, NJ, and Brendan Andrews ’24 of Altoona, Pa., in trying the case of a cash-strapped bar owner whose insured establishment is heavily damaged in a suspicious fire.
All teams are given the same case files at the beginning of each season, and the team’s witnesses must adhere to the affidavits provided, but Mock Trial competitors highlight and challenge each member’s ability to adapt, problem-solve, and think on their feet. In competition, each Mock Trial team tries the case four times, twice as prosecution and twice as defense, with students assuming the roles of attorneys and witnesses in a trial.
Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.