The University of Wisconsin-Superior Mock trial team advances to Opening Round Championship Series and aims at a National appearance for the second year in a row.

You may have seen a delegation of women and men in suits wondering around campus, last weekend. Students from all over the Midwest participated in the Regional Mock Trial tournament, displaying energy and knowledge around the University of Wisconsin-Superior’s premises.

The teams competed in a hope to reach the next level. UW-Superior hosted the Regional Mock Trial tournament, the preliminary step to Opening Round Championship Series, then Nationals. One of the teams representing UW-Superior reached the next round this year, after obtaining fifth place in the Regionals, therefore advancing to ORCS to compete in Hamline, March 25 to 27.

Before the ORCS, new items will be added to the case. ORCS regroup the 24 best teams of the entire Midwest. Only the top six teams will compete in the National tournament at Des Moines, IA.

Common cases are developed by the American Mock Trial Association each year, and delivered to the more than 600 teams in the nation. This year, the teams worked on a civil case involving the negligence of a company.

Eric Albertson and Tianyi Xie, two members from the top UW-Superior team, were recognized for their performance. Eric Albertson scored a perfect 20 out of 20 for his performance as an attorney; Tianyi Xie won the outstanding witness award.

“Mock Trial teaches students skill sets and competences in analyzing, explaining, and defending a court case,” said Dr. Maria Cuzzo, professor of legal studies at the university.

Cassandra Foltz, a psychology major, plaintiff’s attorney for one of the UW-Superior teams, enjoys the challenge Mock Trial brings to her college experience.

“It hones speaking and critical thinking skills,” Foltz said.

Ludmila Ciubaciuc, an exchange student from Moldova studying legal studies at UW-Superior, realizes how important the mock trial is for her experience here, especially coming from a different country where English is her second language.

“I wasn’t sure if I could face it, but I was stubborn enough to do it,” she said.

“Mock trial represents a good practice for student, one of the best pre-law programs an undergraduate can have,” says Dr. Cuzzo, who has been the team’s academic coach for the past 16 years. Her coaching partner is Tracy Shramm, an alumna of UW-Superoir who now works for a Duluth law firm.

The organization is run by a set of co-captains who are students at UW-Superior: Eric Albertson, Kayannda Davis, Brandt Devich, Cassandra Foltz, Jordin Gegare and Katlyn Shipley.