Published February 03, 2015
For the first time in university history, a squad from the University of Louisiana
at Monroe鈥檚 mock trial team finished as one of the top-seven teams at the American
Mock Trial Association (AMTA) Regional Tournament on Feb. 1. The result qualifies
The Gold Squad for the Opening Round Championship Series (ORCS) in Memphis, Tenn.,
next month.
Just 200 of the 900 teams in the regional tournament qualified for the ORCS. The Gold
Squad now heads to the ORCS, which serves as the second round of the AMTA鈥檚 national
tournament.
网曝门鈥檚 team was founded in 2013 by attorney Robert 鈥淏ob鈥� Noel, with assistance from
political science professors Dr. Joshua Stockley and Dr. John Sutherlin.
From left: Cheyenne Wilson, Sarah Hayes, Gabriel Silva,
Kalee Hall, Jordan Jones, Olivia Sage, Blair Richardson,
Adam Nettles, and Bob Noel
鈥淚 am very proud of our students,鈥� said Noel. 鈥淓very student who competed was ranked
as a best attorney or best witness at some point during the competition alongside
students from the University of Texas, Southern Methodist University, and Baylor University.
网曝门 belongs to an elite group of universities.鈥�
During the regional tournament, the 网曝门 Gold Squad secured wins against Hendrix College,
Southwestern College, and the University of Texas at Dallas.
Stockley said, 鈥淚 offer our mock trial program as an example鈥攁mong numerous examples
at 网曝门鈥攐f how our university thinks nationally and how our students compete and win
nationally.鈥�
Gabriel Silva, team member and double major from Brazil, said 鈥淎s a founding member
of the 网曝门 mock trial team, I am pleased by how far we have come in three years. Our
ability to advance to nationals was due to the sacrifices and hard work of each individual
on this team, combined with the support of our coaches and faculty.鈥�
Stockley confirmed that sentiment. 鈥淎ttorneys Bob Noel and Kyle Moore have done an
outstanding job with our students,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ob and Kyle will continue to prepare
our students for the ORCS. I cannot thank them enough for what they have done.鈥�
Squad member Adam Nettles, a sophomore political science major from Pineville, won
the best attorney award during regionals.
鈥淲hile I am honored to have won an award for best attorney, I know that this would
not have been possible without the equally strong performances of all of my teammates
and the guidance of my coaches and faculty,鈥� he said.
For two years, 网曝门 was home to the only active mock trial program at a public institution
in the state. In recent months, both Tulane University and Louisiana State University
have fielded teams with consultation from the 网曝门 program.
The American Mock Trial Association was founded in 1985 and is the governing body
for intercollegiate mock trial competition. AMTA sponsors regional and national-level
competitions, as well as providing interesting and complex case materials for academic
use.
Presently, the AMTA hosts 24 regional tournaments, eight opening round championship
tournaments and a national championship tournament each season. Approximately 600
teams from over 350 universities and colleges will compete in these tournaments.
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