Last weekend, the IUPUI Mock Trial team hosted its 6th annual Indy Mock-Hundred Invitational. There were 24 total teams in attendance to compete at the newly constructed Criminal Justice Campus here in Indianapolis, IN.
The term “tough competition” doesn’t quite do this invitational justice, as powerhouse teams such as the University of Chicago (A & B teams nationally ranked #3 & #34, respectively), the University of Cincinnati (#43), the University of Illinois (#48), the University of Minnesota (#50), and Wheaton College (#70) were all in attendance. Additionally, the tournament hosted fellow Indiana schools, Indiana University (#40 and #263) and Purdue University (#234). IUPUI’s national ranking is 200/267; see national rankings here.
Our Jaguars finished the weekend with a record of 4-4, a point differential of +12, and a CS of 15.5 [i.e., combined strength: the sum of the ballots won by all of that team’s opponents]. Round 1, where teams are paired up by one team “challenging” another, Eastern Kentucky University’s A team selected IUPUI as their opponent, and both teams finished the round 1:1. During round 2, IUPUI came within a single point of splitting ballots in a hard-fought 2nd round against the University of Chicago. In rounds 3 and 4, IUPUI matched up with Eastern Kentucky University B and Depaul University A, winning three out of four ballots.
All ten IUPUI Mock Trial Team members were ranked, on no less than two separate ballots, as a top attorney or witness this weekend, a true feat and a massive improvement from the Golden Dome Invitational in early October.
Senior Gabrielle Martinez, studying psychology, had a gargantuan impact on the weekend. Martinez scored a personal best 17 ranks between four ballots (1st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd) as the prosecution team’s opening attorney.
Courtney Harris – a Political Science Junior – played a pivotal part in the Indy Mock Hundred, coordinating student volunteers throughout the weekend. Many compliments were given to the Mock Trial Team at IUPUI for how well-run the tournament seemed to be, and Harris, along with several other non-competing team members, was a vital part of that success.
Freshman Law in Liberal Arts major Helen McKinney saw a massive improvement in scores and rankings at the invitational while competing as a prosecution witness. McKinney is just one of several fantastic young mock trial members within the team who present a bright future for the organization.
To see the full tournament results, see the Tabulation Summary here. IUPUI will suit up next on the weekend of January 27-28, 2024, for the Hoosier Hoedown, hosted by IU-Bloomington in Bloomington, IN.