Lee University Mock Trial places 5th at the annual Mid-South Invitational
Photo courtesy of the Lee University Mock Trial team.
Lee University’s mock trial team recently placed 5th overall in the Mid-South Invitational Mock Trial competition, hosted by Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU).
Team president Ben Wycoff, along with William Fullford, won the title of best attorney. Witnesses Lydian Burton and Madelaine Burgess won Outstanding Witness awards.
“This is the best our team has ever performed in this tournament,” said Assistant Professor of Political Science Mark Scully.
Alex Clark, a junior Political Science major with a minor in pre-law, has participated on the team since her freshman year at Lee.
“Ever since I’ve been on the team, I have had the role of an opening attorney,” Clark said. “This is great because it really sets the tone for the trial ... I’ve always enjoyed having that ability.”
Each year, the American Mock Trial Association switches between a civil and a criminal case. This year, over 40 teams competed in the defense or prosecution of a criminal case. The defendant was being charged with either involuntary manslaughter or aggravated murder of her 12-year-old daughter. The teams did not find out which of the two they were charged with until 30 minutes before the trial, but all of the facts remained the same.
Within the mock trial, Jordan Ryder was being charged after she took her daughter camping. During that trip, her daughter was either pushed or fatally fell off a cliff.
“It’s my favorite case I've ever seen in Mock Trial,” Clark said.
If the prosecution went for murder, they would argue Ryder, who is known to have anger issues, pushed her daughter off the cliff. If they went for manslaughter, they would argue Ryder knowingly put her daughter in substantial risk which caused her to die.
Senior theatre major Madelaine Burgess has been a part of the team for three years, and participated in her high school mock trial team as the defendant. Burgess has played a witness in all three of the cases she has participated in.
Ben Wycoff — team captain and senior business management and information systems with a minor in political science — has also been on the team for three years and participated in NCFCA speech and debate in high school.
“This is by far our most successful season in program history,” said Wycoff, who now holds the most individual awards of anyone who has been on the team.
Wycoff is also the president of the Society for Law and Justice which serves as the mock trial team.
“I try to help everyone the best I can by setting a good example and being sure to help them whenever they need it,” Wycloff said.
The mock trial team has much to strive for in the upcoming year as they wait to find out what the 2020 civil case will be next fall.
For more information on upcoming meetings or events, contact the leadership team at mocktrial@leeuniversity.edu.
