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Strong Start to 2026 for Juniata Mock Trial Teams at Cornell and Drexel
(Posted January 20, 2026)
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From the left, Coach Dave Andrews ’74, Zachary Riggall ’29, Bryce Garland ’27, Cole Gross ’26, Alyssa Clark ’26, Madeline Herold ’27, Abbey Landahl ’29, Alyvyah Scott ’27, and Gracie Gioiosa ’29
From the left, Coach Dave Andrews ’74, Zachary Riggall ’29, Bryce Garland ’27, Cole Gross ’26, Alyssa Clark ’26, Madeline Herold ’27, Abbey Landahl ’29, Alyvyah Scott ’27, and Gracie Gioiosa ’29
HUNTINGDON, Pa. —Facing a formidable field, Juniata’s Mock Trial Team A earned a second-place finish at Cornell University’s Big Red Invitational Classic, along with multiple individual awards recognizing courtroom excellence.
“The Cornell Tournament is always one of the most competitive Mock Trial Tournaments each year, and it was a significant accomplishment for our team to take home the second-place trophy,” noted Mock Trial Coach Attorney David Andrews ’74. “We only missed a first-place finish by one-half of a point, and we defeated several highly ranked teams over the weekend, including Boston College, the top ranked team at the tournament, as well as Fordham University. We now move on to the Regional Playoffs in February.”
Also this weekend, Juniata’s Gold Team contended against top-tier teams at the Battle of the Experts at Drexel University, with Celise Springer ’28 of Brooklyn, NY, bringing home an Outstanding Witness Award.
Individual team members winning honors at Cornell University were Maddie Herold ’27 of South Abington Township, Pa., recognized with both an Outstanding Attorney Award and an Outstanding Witness Award; and Zachary Riggall ’29 of Taylor, Pa., and Ethan Dennis ’28 of Altoona, Pa., who each won Outstanding Attorney Awards.
This year’s case involves an alleged murder at a Survivor-type television show. The case involves one contestant allegedly putting acid in the swimming goggles of another contestant during the competition.
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.