News Article

Gonzaga University Mock Trial Team 614 finished with a 5-3 record at the regional tournament held Feb. 9-12 at the University of Portland, and advances with a Silver bid to the national tournament to be held March 9-13 at St. Petersburg, Fla.

In addition, Team 614 member Jill Quinn earned the top witness award at the tournament, while Quinn, Daisy Tran (Team 615) and Ginny Griffin (Team 616) were named All Regional Outstanding Witnesses; Griffin also earned the top attorney award in the tournament. Earning All Regional Outstanding Attorney honors for Gonzaga were Griffin, Emmilee Peterson (Team 616 and the elite Bye Buster Team), Patrick Gunning (Team 615), and Tim Campbell (Team 616).

Brad Bloch, official independent observer and former American Mock Trial Association National Tournament Director, called the regional tourney one of the “premiere” regional qualifiers in the nation. The regional hosted many of the nation’s top Mock Trial teams; a total of 22 teams and 176 students took part in the academic competition.

Team 614 includes Cory Campbell, Gina Cervino, Dan McGivern, Quinn, Kate Scordato, Matt Shoop, and Forrest Smith. Team 615 includes Kristen Benadom, Gunning, Michael Hickey, Claire Hood, Katie Love, Tran and Greg Wilson. GU Team 616 is comprised of Tim Campbell, Robert Coleman, Katie Gast, Brett Grannemann, Griffin, Peterson, and Sara Strachila.

Gonzaga’s three Mock Trial Teams are coached by Georgie Ann Weatherby, GU associate professor of sociology and criminal justice; GU sociology and criminal justice Assistant Professor Vik Gumbhir; Spokane County Deputy Prosecutor Tony Hazel; Tracy LeRoy, attorney with Witherspoon, Kelley, Davenport, and & Toole; and Jennifer Underwood, attorney with Keith
Douglass & Associates. Weatherby expressed pride in the teams.