Members of Lee University’s Mock Trial A-Team, back row from left, Luke Dobert, Paul Atherton, Nolan Wallace, Shelby Flanigan, and front row, from left, Victoria Lee, Matthew Shackelford, Aiden Giavelli, and Sydney Fant
Paul Atherton
Shelby Flanigan
Lee University’s Mock Trial Team competed in the Chucky Mullins Invitational at the University of Mississippi. Two members brought home individual awards.
"Once again, Lee’s Mock Trial team demonstrated that focused, diligent preparation does pay off,” said Dr. Mark Scully, associate professor of political science. “The team performed admirably in their first invitation, surprised some of their competitors, and are poised to be very competitive for the rest of the year.”
Mock Trial’s “A-Team;” consisting of Paul Atherton, Luke Dobert, Aiden Giavelli, Sydney Fant, Shelby Flanigan, Victoria Lee, Matthew Shackelford, and Nolan Wallace; finished 4th among 12 competing teams. They faced off against teams from the University of Tulane, Texas Christian University, Louisiana-Monroe, and the University of Mississippi.
Along with their ranking, Mock Trial members also brought home three individual awards. Ms. Flanigan, an English major, received a rank in the witness award, and Mr. Atherton, a political science major and president of the Mock Trial Team, received ranks in both the attorney and witness awards. This marks the third year in a row that Lee’s Mock Trial Team has received at least one individual award at every tournament.
“The Chucky Mullins invitational is always a spectacle as high-ranking teams are consistently in the competition field,” said Mr. Atherton. “Despite Lee's A-Team being one of the youngest varsity teams in our program's history, each member competed very well, defeating top nationals-level opposition.”
The Mock Trial Team will compete in Indiana at the IUPUI Indy Mock-Hundred, a tournament being held this November at the University of Indiana-Purdue University Indianapolis. There, the members will take on teams from across the country.
This year’s Mock Trial B-Team includes Jadaryn Burson, Chenoa Cero, Shauna Drinnon, Olivia Faulkner, Lily Griffith, Seth Palmer, Jeremiah Ruff, David Steinmetz, and Kaitlyn Stoker. The team will compete during the spring semester at Eastern Kentucky University's Colonel Classic invitational, which will take place Jan. 21-22.
For more information about Lee University’s Mock Trial Team, contact Mr. Atherton at mocktrial@leeuniversity.edu.