Eastern Kentucky University’s mock trial team earned second place at the 14th Annual Illinois State University Mock Trial Invitational in Bloomington, Illinois, Nov. 13-15.
The EKU team, composed entirely of Kentucky residents, finished with a 7-1 record, winning both judges’ ballots in rounds against Benedictine College, the University of Central Missouri and Loyola University Chicago, and splitting ballots with Wheaton College.
The effort was led by Captain Allie Maples, a political science major from Mount Sterling, the only participant to earn Outstanding Attorney awards on both the prosecution and defense sides of the case. Other members of the second-place squad were Matt Boggs, a political science and history double major from Whitesburg; Sean Potter, a political science major from Whitesburg; Maiya Lane, a criminal justice major from Louisville; Andrena Mounce, a biology and chemistry double major from Berea; and Ryan Wiggins, a criminal justice and psychology double major from Georgetown. Maples and Boggs are members of EKU Honors.
EKU’s mock trial team will conclude its fall season next weekend at the Great Lakes Mock Trial Invitational in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and will resume competition in January with tournaments in Chicago and Atlanta. The program is sponsored by EKU University Programs.
Last season, EKU finished 11th nationally out of more than 600 collegiate mock trial teams nationwide. It finished fifth nationally in 2009 and 14th in 2012.
Faculty and staff working with the program include Tom Parker, Lynnette Noblitt, Kristeena Johnson, Brandon Williams and Dean Sara Zeigler.