Courtesy | Ella Lovins
Hillsdale College Mock Trial took home eight individual awards at their weekend tournaments — the most awards won over a tournament weekend so far this season.
Sua Spont-aneous went to Boston to compete at Tufts University Mumbo Jumbo Invitational and took home fifth place. They swept Boston University and Binghamton University 2-0, and tied ballots 1-1 with both Tufts University and Rutgers University.
The team earned four individual awards: Senior Jon Hovance with a 16-rank witness award and an 18-rank attorney award, senior Gabe Higbie with an 18-rank attorney award, and junior Erin McDonald with an 18-rank attorney award.
“Every senior that competed this weekend won an award,” sophomore Robert Nordin said. “It’s really inspiring to watch their hard work show the program what dedication to mock trial can yield.”
Hovance has won four awards this season.
“I think the most influential thing in my time on mock trial has been the ability to watch great competitors above me and learn from them,” Hovance said. “As a freshman I watched Justin Lee and Caleb Sampson compete and then the last couple years I started working more closely with Patrick McDonald to see how exceptional competitors like him work so then I can try and imitate the good things they do.”
Sua Spont-aneous has grown in their capability as a team, according to Nordin.
“Watching my team place for a second time this season was exceptional because some of us were playing different roles,” Nordin said. “All of us put in a lot of effort and the awards won this weekend definitely is evidence of that.”
Hovance said the freshmen on his team performed well this weekend.
“We have two freshmen on the team, Kayla and Madeline, who have done a really good job,” Hovance said. “Joining a returner team means going against tougher opponents, but they’ve done a good job putting in the work and being able to contribute to major successes this weekend.”
Hovance said he hopes to take first place at their next competition.
“I think I’d like to see us gun for a win at our final tournament this season,” Hovance said. “The first two tournaments we’ve been really close — like within one ballot of winning the tournament. South Carolina is going to be a good field because it’s really good competition. I think if we fix a few small things, and we perform the way we have then we have a shot at taking all the trophies home.”
Ab Ignitio, the freshmen mock trial team, competed at the University of Notre Dame in the Golden Dome Invitational. They swept Washington University and Indiana University 2-0, and lost to Northwestern’s A and B teams 2-0.
Ab Ignitio won four individual distinctions: senior Elizabeth Gaines with a 19-rank attorney award, senior Miriam Ahern with a 18-rank attorney award, freshman Evan Duncan with a 16-rank witness award, and freshman Kendra Wilken with a 15-rank witness award.
“It was a proud moment,” Gaines said. “It was rewarding to see my work over the years pay off in such a tangible way. My favorite part was celebrating with my teammates. I’m very grateful to be part of a program where everyone is so excited for each other’s success.”
Duncan and Wilken won their first career awards this weekend.
“I was really grateful for the help from my coach and my captains,” Wilkens said. “I achieved my award through the help of them and my team.”
Duncan said he looks forward to how the team will perform at their final tournament in Wisconsin.
“The moment I heard my name get mentioned with 16-ranks I was shocked,” Duncan said. “It was not something I had anticipated getting. I feel like our team gets better and better each week, and I am just excited to see how all of our prep is going to pay off for Wisconsin. We still have so much to learn about the process, but with the counsel from coaches like Mr. and Mrs. Church, and Justin, and the leadership from Miriam and Elizabeth, we definitely have the ability to do well at this tournament and maybe even place.”
Gaines, Ab Ignitio’s team captain, enjoyed seeing her teammates’ hard work pay off.
“I saw a lot of improvement in the team’s ability to make offensive plays, such as making objections or addressing difficult questions on witness cross examination,” Gaines said. “I could tell that their hard work in the preceding week paid off with increased confidence and performance across the board. That hard work was especially evident when two of our freshmen were awarded, which was very exciting.”
Wilken said he thinks the team has good chemistry.
“My goal for this upcoming tournament is for us to work even harder, have lots more fun, and give it all to the Lord and make him proud of the things we do.”
