Tournament History
2009 - 2010 Season
Regionals
The Trial Team has done it again! We have advanced two teams to the Opening Round Championships Series Tournament. Twenty-two teams from throughout Florida, Georgia and South Carolina competed in four rounds over two days.
Our team 868, captained by Erica Emas earned a bid with a record of 6-2 and CS of 17. The members of 868 are: Erica Emas, Michael Garcia, Elizabeth Bejerano, Daniel Davis, Victor, Demesmin, Mike Koeltzow, Austin Miniard, Matt Bernstein, and Chris Springer. Our team 869, captained by Christian Bonet earned a bid with a record of 6-2 and CS of 16. The members of 869 are: Christian Bonet, Juan Garcia-Pardo, Brandon Dark, Jessica Gordon, Lisa Soros, Samantha Ruiz, Jackie Evans, Desiree Staeffler-Marchbanks, John Tolley, and Robert Zahradnik-Mitchell. Both Christian and Erica earned individual awards as attorneys.
Invitationals
Team 868 captained by Erica Emas placed 4th overall at the Ramblin' Wreck Tournament hosted by Georgia Tech in Atlanta this weekend. The members of Team 868 are Erica Emas, Michael Garcia, Elizabeth Bejarano, Daniel Davis, Victor Demesmin, Mike Koeltzow, Austin Miniard, & Matt Bernstein. Victor Demesmin also earned an Outstanding Witness Award for his portrayal of a witness for the prosecution with 19 of 20 rankings.
The Trial Team at UCF competed at the Ohio Northern University Polar Bear Mock Trial Invitational Tournament in Ada, Ohio this weekend and had amazing results in a field of 38 teams.
Facing strong competition, UCF's team 869, captained by senior Christian Bonet, with lead attorney Juan Garcia - Pardo, took 1st place. The team finished with a record of 7-1. The members of the team include: Christian Bonet, Juan Garcia-Pardo, Lisa Soros, Brandon Dark, John Tolley, Desiree Staeffler-Marchbanks, Jessica Gordon, Sam Ruiz, Jacki Evans, and Robert Zahradnik-Mitchell.
Also earning a top ten finish and plaque was UCF's team 870, captained by Tyler Egbert with lead attorney Vanessa Seblano. Team 870 finshed 10th with an overall record of 5-3. The members of this team include: Tyler Egbert, Adam Davis, Vanessa Seblano, Robert Mansen, JulieAnn Embler, Sam Roberts, Megan Probst, and Stacey Marmorstein.
UCF's team 871 captained by Nicholas Gurney, with lead attorney Kelli Sutton, also brought home individual awards. Kelli Sutton earned an Outstanding Attorney Award with 19 of 20 rankings for her role as an attorney for the defense. Michael Mulvaney earned an Outstanding Witness Award with 19 of 20 rankings for his role as a witness for the prosecution.
Once again the Trial Team at UCF performed well this weekend at The Crimson Classic at Harvard College. UCF competed in a field of 36 teams finishing 4th and 5th in their division. Two students were recognized for their outstanding performances as attorneys: Erica Emas, Captain of Team 868 and Juan Garcia-Pardo Captain of Team 870.
The weekend of October 23rd our team 869 finished 3rd overall at the Annual Classic City Invitational hosted by UGA in Athens, Georgia. Again, two students, Austin Miniard and Matthew Bernstein, were recognized for their outstanding performances and earned individual awards for their performances as witnesses.
The team also competed at the 3rd Annual Carolina Classic Invitational the weekend of October16th. While we did not place at that tournament our team did not come home empty handed. Erica Emas of 868 was recognized for her performance as an outstanding attorney and Elizabeth Bejerano of 868 was recognized for her performance as an outstanding witness.
2009 - 2008 Season
(2009)
Regionals
All three of UCF’s teams have earned “bids” to the Opening Round Championship Series Tournament hosted by Furman University. UCF is one of approximately 5 universities in the country who have the distinction of having had three of their teams qualify for the National Tournament, others include Penn State, UCLA, Duke, and Harvard.
Team 868 and 869 were at the AMTA East Coast Regional Mock Trial Tournament at the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center. There were 22 teams from throughout Florida and Georgia in attendance.
Team 869 finished 2nd overall with a record of 7-1. The team captained by Andrew Doyle, includes Matthew Bernstein, Brandon Dark, Marcus Rein, Michael Garcia, Daniel Davis, Samantha Ruiz, Robert Mansen, Maggie Blakely, Justin McConnell, and Adam Davis.
Team 868 finished 7th overall with a record of 6-2. The team captained by Jordan Ostroff includes Erica Emas, Amanda Wright, Christian Bonet, Elizabeth Bejarano, Stephen O'Neal, Ben Novogroski, Tyler Egbert, and Laura Goodell.
These two teams join Team 870 who finished 4th overall at the Southeast Regional Tournament hosted by UNC- Chapel Hill on February 6-8, 2009. Team 870 captained by Cassandra Branch includes Chris Bodenhamer, Lisa Soros, Tracy Parkhurst, Jessica Gordon, Michael Koeltzow, Juan Garcia-Pardo, Chris Arter, and Roxanne Charles.
In addition, at the East Coast Regional UCF’s attorneys dominated earning 5 of the 10 All-Regional Outstanding Attorney Awards! Winners were Team 868’s Erica Emas with 18 of 20 rankings on defense; 869’s Justin McConnell with 18 rankings on plaintiff; 868’s Jordan Ostroff with 18 rankings on plaintiff; 869’s Brandon Dark on defense with 17 rankings; and 869’s Michael Garcia with 17 rankings on plaintiff. Also Stephen O’Neal of Team 868 earned an All-Regional Outstanding Witness Award.
Invitationals
The Mock Trial Team at UCF traveled to Ada, Ohio to compete at the Polar Bear Invitational hosted by Ohio Northern University. The team competed in a well respected field of 46 teams, including Cal Tech, Eastern Michigan, Ohio State, and many others. Our teams performed extremely well.
Team 868 captained by Jordan Ostroff placed 10th with a record of 6-2. Jordan's team earned 1 Outstanding Attorney Award won by Jordan and two Outstanding Witness Awards earned by Stephen O'Neal and Elizabeth Bejerano. Team 868 members are: Jordan Ostroff, Erica Emas, Amanda Wright, Christian Bonet, Elizabeth Bejarano, Stephen O'Neal, Ben Novogroski, Tyler Egbert, and Laura Goodell.
Team 869 captained by Andrew Doyle placed 7th with a record of 6-2. Andrew's team also earned Honorable Mentioned for the Spirit of AMTA Professionalism Award which is determined by the teams based on their interaction with the other teams at the tournament. Team 869 members are: Andrew Doyle, Matthew Bernstein, Brandon Dark, Marcus Rein, Michael Garcia, Daniel Davis, Samantha Ruiz, Robert Mansen, Maggie Blakely, Justin McConnell, and Adam Davis.
Team 870 captained by Cassandra Branch finished with a record of 4-3.5. Cassie's team also earned an Outstanding Witness Award won by Jessica Gordon, and an Outstanding Attorney Award won by Chris Bodenhamer. Team 870 members are: Cassandra Branch, Chris Bodenhamer, Lisa Soros, Tracy Parkhurst, Jessica Gordon, Michael Koeltzow, Juan Garcia-Pardo, Chris Arter, Roxanne Charles, and Kol Greathouse.
2007 – 2008 Season
(2008)
Nationals
The Mock Trial Team at UCF teams 868 and 870 competed in the American Mock Trial Association National Tournament at Memphis , March 14-16, 2008. The Mock Trial Team at UCF was one of four programs with two teams in attendance who earned bids to this National Tournament. Team 868 placed in the Outstanding Top Ten Trial Teams, taking home the 8th place trophy after playing the Tournament Champions in the fourth round. Brenna Egan from Team 868 earned an All National Attorney Award, as well.
Regionals
The Mock Trial Team at UCF competed in the 2008 East Coast Regional Tournament hosted by UCF, February 8-10th. Team 868 placed 3rd overall out of 17 teams earning a bid to Silver Nationals. Competition included GA Tech, Wake Forest, Richmond, UF, FSU, among others. UCF had the highest ranked team out of all of the Florida Colleges and Universities that participated. Erica Emas, and Tiffany Colbert from Team 868 and Chris Arter from Team 869 earned All Region Attorney Awards. George Gaspard from Team 869 earned an All Region Witness Award.
Team 870 of the Mock Trial Team at UCF competed in the 2008 South Atlantic I Regional Tournament hosted by Furman University, February 1-2nd. Team 870 placed 3rd out of 18 teams earning a bid to Silver Nationals. Team 870 took home two individual awards with Marcus Rein earning an All Region Witness Award and Amanda Wright earning an All Region Attorney Award.
These two accomplishments earned both teams bids to compete in the American Mock Trial Association's National Tournament hosted by Rhodes College in Memphis, March 14-16, 2008.
Inivtaionals
Team 869 and 870 of the Mock Trial Team at UCF competed at the 6th Annual Willis Whichard Mock Trial Tournament, January 11-12th. Team 869 (Chris Arter (Cap't.), Daniel Davis, Alex Weaver, Jordan Ostroff, Matt Bernstein, Stuar Tavarez, Michelle Goodman, Shannon Laurie, & George Gaspard) took 2nd with a record of 6-2. 870's Cassandra Branch and 869's Michelle Goodman each brought home an Outstanding Witness Award. Jordan Ostroff of Team 869 earned an Outstanding Attorney Award with 18 out of 20 rankings.
(2007)
The Mock Trial Team at UCF competed at the 2nd Annual Harvard Crimson Classic, November 9-10, 2007. Team 868 of the Mock Trial Team (Brenna Egan (captain), Tiffany Colbert, Sam Bird, Jessica Kennedy, Mike Quintero, Andrew Doyle, Erica Emas, Ben Abel, and Genesh Chen-Shue) finished 1st in the Donovan Division with a record of 7-1. The team also brought home three individual awards: Brenna Egan and Erica Emas from Team 868 each earned Outstanding Attorney Awards (18 rankings). Marcus Rein from Team 870 earned an Outstanding Witness Award with a perfect score of 20 rankings. Marcus was one of only two competitors in the entire tournament to earn perfect scores as a witness.
The Mock Trial Team at UCF kicked off the season by hosting and competing in the 2007 2nd Annual Southeastern Invitational Award. Team 868 (Brenna Egan, Michael Quintero, Ben Abel, Samuel Bird, Genesh Chen-Shue, Tiffany Colbert, Andrew Doyle, Erica Emas, and Jessica Kennedy) placed 2nd with a record of 6.5 – 1.5. Tiffany Colbert (20 Rankings) and Brenna Egan (19 Rankings) both earned Best Attorney Awards.
Team 869’s Jordan Ostroff (19 Rankings) earned a Best Attorney Award. Team 870’s Marcus Rein (17 Rankings) earned a Best Witness Award.
2006 – 2007 Season
(2007) The Mock Trial Team at UCF competed in the 2007 Gulf Coast Regional hosted by Florida A&M University. Team 868 (Natalie Boyajian, Captain Jayson Serrano, Brenna Egan, Candace Stuart, Jean Marc Chanoine, Joe Etter, Kendell Ali and Juan Medolla) placed 2nd with a record of 7-0-1, CS 18, earning a bid to the Gold National Championship Tournament in St. Petersburg, FL. Jayson Serrano (18 Rankings) and Natalie Boyajian (17 Rankings) both won All-Region Attorney Awards. Kendell Ali (18 Rankings) won an All-Region Witness Award.
Team 869 (Rachel Rubinski, Steve Chavarria, Marcus Hyatt, Jessica Kennedy, Mike Quintero, Andrew Langenbach, Tiffany Colbert, and Chris Arter) placed 3rd with a record of 6-2, earning a bid to the Silver National Tournament, in Waukegan, IL. Andrew Langenbach (20 Rankings) and Michael Quintero (18 Rankings) both earned All-Region Witness Awards.
Team 870’s Andrew Doyle (17 Rankings) earned an All-Region Witness Award.
(2006) The Mock Trial Team at UCF competed at the Yale Mock Trial Tournament, the largest trial tournament in the nation, and Team 868 placed first in one of two divisions, beating teams from 30 other colleges and universities, including those from Princeton and Yale. Team 868, which consists of Natalie Boyajian, Captain Jayson Serrano, Brenna Egan, Candace Stuart, Jean Marc Chanoine, Joe Etter, Kendell Ali and Juan Medolla, took first place in their division with a record of 8-0. They were the only team of the 65 present at the entire tournament to go undefeated! The Trial Team became runner-up in the championship round.
The Mock Trial Team at UCF hosted the 1st Annual Southeastern Invitational. Team 868 (of Natalie Boyajian, Captain Jayson Serrano, Brenna Egan, Candace Stuart, Jean Marc Chanoine, Joe Etter, Kendell Ali and Juan Medolla) placed 1st. Natalie Boyajin earned a Best Witness Award. Team 869 (Rachel Rubinski, Steve Chavarria, Marcus Hyatt, Jessica Kennedy, Mike Quintero, Andrew Langenbach, Tiffany Colbert, and Chris Arter) of the Mock Trial Team at UCF won 3rd place overall. Andrew Langenbach earned a Best Attorney award. Michael Quintero earned a Best Witness Award.
2005-2006 Season
(2006) The Trial Team went to the National Tournament in St. Petersburg, Florida. We had two Top Attorney (Marcus Hyatt & Jason Serrano) at the regional tournament and a Top Witness (Bill Van Rijn)
(2005) The Trial Team brought back two outstanding Witness Awards. The Awards were won by Natalie Boyajin and Jamie Weber for their portrayal of the victim witnesses. At Yale there were 408 witness portrayals during the two days of competition in the division. Awards were only given to the top 10 witnesses. Natalie and Jamie both earned perfect scores for their portrayals and were ranked 1st and 2nd, respectively out of those ten.
2003
The University of Central Florida Mock Trial Team brought home another victory from the 2003 Yale Annual Invitational Mock Trial Team Tournament, placing second and fifth in the Joseph H. Dvorkin Division and second place overall based on point standing.
2002
The Trial Team won the Ivy League Invitational at Yale University. They beat Boston University, Fordham, Dartmouth, Cornell and George Washington University.