Despite a school record-setting performance, the UA Mock Trial team fell just short of advancing at the American Mock Trial Association Opening Round Championship in Memphis, TN this past weekend (March 19-20).  Rhodes College hosted the 3 day event, which comprised four rounds of competition against teams that all finished in the top 6 of regional tournaments, as a precondition of entry into this tournament.  According to the team’s coach and Political Science instructor Allen Linken, “The team showed amazing resolve, dedication, and resilience, in addition to tremendous advocacy skills and preparation.”

UA’s team set program records for number of ballots won (4.5 ballots, finishing with a record of 4-3-1) and rank in the tournament (finishing 7th out of 24).  The team fell just one point short on their final ballot from advancing (for the first time ever) to the National Championship Tournament in Greenville, SC in May.  UA’s team endured through an extremely tough strength of schedule at the tournament. The teams that Alabama faced had a combined total of 22 wins – no other team faced competition that had more than 19.  The team split ballots (won one, lost one) against one of the toughest teams and programs in the country, perennial powerhouse Rhodes College. They also won both ballots against another powerhouse from Texas, and took 1.5 ballots (won one, tied one) against the 47th ranked team in the country, Indiana’s A team.  One of UA’s attorneys, Amber Scales, was recognized as an outstanding attorney at the tournament.

The UA team advanced to this level of the competition based on their top-6 finish at the Jackson, MS Regional Tournament in February.  There were 24 teams competing in the regional round, which included the 7th ranked team in the country – Rhodes College, University of Tennessee (Chattanooga), UAB, Tulane University, University of Mississippi, and Millsaps College.

For more information about UA Mock Trial and how to get involved, see their website.