(Posted February 1, 2024)

Juniata College’s Mock Trial Team brought home a third place trophy from the Battle in the Bayou in New Orleans, La. Team members include, front row, from the left, Alex Sanna ’24, Brooke Franke ’24, Shea Langille ’24, and Katie Troxell ’26; second row, Dan Cummins ’24, Head Coach David Andrews ’74, Quintin Ioime ’24, Olivia Day ’24,  Cole Gross ’25, Rich Wei ’25, Bryce Garland ’26, and Assistant Coach Jordyn Ney.  

Juniata College’s Mock Trial Team brought home a third place trophy from the Battle in the Bayou in New Orleans, La. Team members include, front row, from the left, Alex Sanna ’24, Brooke Franke ’24, Shea Langille ’24, and Katie Troxell ’26; second row, Dan Cummins ’24, Head Coach David Andrews ’74, Quintin Ioime ’24, Olivia Day ’24,  Cole Gross ’25, Rich Wei ’25, Bryce Garland ’26, and Assistant Coach Jordyn Ney.  

HUNTINGDON, Pa. — The Legal Eagles were up to the fight at the Battle in the Bayou Mock Trial Tournament in New Orleans, La., this weekend. Juniata College’s nationally-ranked Mock Trial Team faced off against top-level competitors and placed third out of 20 teams from across the country.  

"I am proud of our students who competed against major universities in all four trials, and our success at this tournament gives us momentum going into this weekend's Regional Playoffs hosted by Penn State," said Attorney David Andrews ’74, coach of Juniata’s Mock Trial Team.   

In addition to the trophy the team carried back to Pennsylvania, team captain Dan Cummins ’24 was individually honored with an Outstanding Attorney Award.   

At the tournament, Juniata’s team defeated Rhodes College 2-1, split with Baylor University 1-1-1, defeated Tulane University 2-1 on their home turf, and won in the final against American University.   

Governed by the AMTA, Mock Trial is an academic competition in which students assume the roles of attorneys and witnesses in a trial. Teams compete against other colleges and universities, with no distinction between Divisions 1, 2, and 3. In competition, each team tries the case four times, twice as prosecution and twice as defense. All teams are given the same information, and witnesses must stick to the affidavit provided, but the ways different teams interpret the information highlight and challenge each member’s ability to adapt, problem-solve, and think on their feet. 

 Teams compete against other colleges and universities. All teams are given the same information, and witnesses must stick to the affidavit provided, but the ways different teams interpret the information highlight and challenge each member’s ability to adapt, problem-solve, and think on their feet. 

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.