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C-SC mock trial team brings home first victory
Tuesday, November 17, 2009

CANTON, Mo. – Culver-Stockton competed in the Illinois State University Invitational Tournament at the McLean County Law and Justice Center, Bloomington, Ill., over the weekend. Culver-Stockton’s team won both cards in its third round against the University of St. Francis, Joliet, Ill., giving Culver-Stockton its first American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) victory of the season. This is Culver-Stockton first season of competing in mock trial.

Of the 15 teams competing in the ISU Invitational, Culver-Stockton competed against teams from the University of Illinois, Champaign, Ill.; Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Mich.; Bradley University, Peoria, Ill.; and the University of St. Francis.

The C-SC victory came in the third-round of completion with the defense side of the case. Ryan Thoroman delivered the opening statement, and Casey Craft delivered the closing argument. Ian Heath played Dr. Loren Charney, the forensic entomologist, Lee Goolsby played Alex Grace, the alibi witness, and Caleb Shubert played the defendant who was charged with murdering his business partner.

“These strong witness performances helped Culver secure its victory over St. Francis,” said Judy Abbott, senior lecturer in criminal justice and law.

The prosecution side of the case was comprised of Ian Heath who delivered the opening statement, and Jessica Deters who performed the closing argument. Dallas Spurgeon portrayed the chief detective, Brandie Stokes played the co-defendant who was also charged with murder, and Lee Goolsby played the eye witness to the murder.

In the first round of the tournament, the C-SC mock trial team competed against Western Michigan and fell short by just a few points. In the second round C-SC lost to the University of Illinois, Champaign, Ill.; and in the final round, C-SC lost by just a couple of points to Bradley University’s A team.

“Our kids hung in with the big powerhouse schools at a very competitive tournament. I am so proud of our team, they hung in each round and never gave up,” Abbott added. “Two of the rounds were extremely close and could have gone either way.”

The C-SC team finished the tournament with a better record than the Quincy University team, which placed second in the most recent tournament in which C-SC competed.

“That shows you how far our kids have come. We beat a team that beat us just a few weeks ago,” said Abbott.
The C-SC mock trial team will travel next to the University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo., to compete in the regional tournament in February.