Gonzaga University Mock Trial Teams 1022 and 1023 made their 13th consecutive appearance at Silver Nationals at University of California in Orange County.
This year, they placed fifth out of the 24 elite teams, consisting of 192 students, at the tournament.
The championship was structured in the traditional format: four intense, back-to-back, power-matched rounds.
Gonzaga University Team 1022 battled with UCLA (1-1), Arizona State (1-1), Stanford (2-0), and Washington State (1-1). GU Team 1023 squared off against Fresno State (2-0), Cal-Poly (0-2), Cal-Berkeley (1-1) and Stanford (1-1).
In fifth place, the Gonzaga Team 1022 has earned one of six highly coveted bids to the Gold National Mock Trial Championship at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn., April 15-19, with a 5-3 record. Gonzaga also dominated the individual awards in California; Dane Westermeyer (GU Team 1023) earned an All-American Witness Award, and All-American Attorney Awards were landed by Drew Pollom (1023) and Katie Shattuck (GU Team 1022).
"We work hard all year, so it's good to see our team succeed," junior Drew Pollom said.
Coach Georgie Ann Weatherby concurs.
"These top students battled their hearts out. They deserve their stars on the Hollywood Mock Trial Walk of Fame, which they clearly earned this weekend. Gold Nationals is the pinnacle of Mock Trial, and we are ready to take that monumental next step."
To get to Silver Nationals, Gonzaga Mock Trial Teams 1022, 1023, and 1024 competed in the co-hosted Eastern Washington/Washington State Pacific Northwest Regional Mock Trial Qualifier on Feb. 19-21. The regional competition was held at the Riverpoint Campus.
Approximately 160 students within 20 teams were vying for the bids to National Championships.
GU Team 1022 faced Portland (1-1), Washington State (1-1), Stanford (0-2), and Eastern Washington (2-0). Team 1023 was pitted against Cal-Berkeley (2-0), Stanford (2-0), Washington (1-1), and Central Washington (2-0). GU Team 1024 squared off against Portland (2-0), Washington State (2-0), and Stanford (0-2).
Team 1023, with a 7-1 record, captured first place, and the top bid to Nationals. They became the reigning Pacific Northwest Regional Mock Trial Champion. Team 1022 was granted the second bid (any one school is limited to a maximum of two bids).
In addition, All-American Witness Awards, the top awards in the tournament, were earned by Mike Harmond (Team 1023), and Jessica Timm (Team 1022). All-American Attorney Awards were earned by Morgan Sellers (Team 1024, the top "perfect ranks" attorney tournament-wide), Katie Shattuck (Team 1022), and Greer Thomas (Team 1023).
Team 1022 is composed of Jill Harvey, Meg Houlihan, Sofia Noorani, Jen Odegard, Katie Shattuck, Jessica Timm, and Emmy Ziegler. GU Team 1023 consists of Mike Harmond, Dan Peck, Drew Pollom, Greer Thomas, Koby Warren, Dane Westermeyer and Kelly Kamstra stepping in for Sparky Garcia, who could not compete due to prior commitments. For the regional competition, Team 1024 included Jessica Elekes, George Max Helling, Kelly Kamstra, Alli Pulley, Morgan Sellers, Erin Tobin, and Willa Voss.
Gonzaga Mock Trial is coached by Dr. Georgie Ann Weatherby, Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice, Dr. Vikas Gumbhir, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice, and Tim Campbell, law clerk with Eymann, Allison, Hunter, Jones, P.S.
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