This weekend was an odyssey for Hillsdale College Mock Trial. 

While returner team Platypus Deniability didn’t need ten years to complete a 4-4 finish at the Peach Bowl Invitational, just getting to Emory University in Georgia was an adventure in itself. Hillsdale’s other returner team, Kangaroo Court, took fifth place at the Tufts Mumbo-Jumbo Invitational with 5.5 ballots.

Platypus Deniability started the tournament without their plaintiff evidence bag after two bags of tournament equipment wound up on two separate flights. The team was also unable to check into their hotel until about 1 a.m., according to sophomore and team co-captain Ty Tomasoski.

“I’m very proud of how the team handled the weirdest night on a mock trial tournament I’ve ever seen and pulled through and competed really well in spite of it,” Tomasoski said. 

Senior Abigail Wagner said she thought the tournament went well. “I think we overcame a lot of the technical stuff on Friday night very well. People were really good about finding creative solutions to the problems,” Wagner said. “There were also just some great rounds that were really good for learning some lessons that we will need to have for later in the fall and the rest of the spring.”

The team split ballots against Rhodes College before sweeping the University of Southern California with a 2-0 ballot score. Platypus Deniability lost both ballots in the third round against Washington University and split ballots 1-1 against Florida State University. 

Most mock trial tournaments require a 16-rank vote from judges to win a witness or attorney award, while the Peach Bowl requires an 18-rank vote. Senior and Platypus Deniability co-captain senior Njomeza Pema, Wagner, and sophomore Miriam Ahern all finished with 17-rank votes.

Wagner said Ahern had good objection responses and very impressive work on cross-examining her witnesses. Wagner also said that Pema performed well. 

“Njomeza’s closings are always phenomenal and this weekend was no exception,” Wagner said.

Kangaroo Court faced off against Tufts University, Washington University, Princeton University, and Yale University Team B to win 5.5 total ballots, senior and co-captain senior Natalie Leblanc said in an email. 

“I think the tournament went well,” Leblanc said. “I was particularly proud of the team on the first day when we hit Tufts A and Princeton. Both of those rounds were clean and energetic, and I thought we put out a really good performance.”

Junior Chloe Noller said she was proud of the team’s performance. 

“We hit some really good teams,” Noller said. “And I was proud of us for a first tournament that wasn’t bad. We had some really good moments. Nathan Emslie had a fantastic cross and Patrick also did fantastic crosses for the defense.” 

Sophomore Jon Hovance received an individual outstanding witness award while junior and co-captain Patrick McDonald received an outstanding attorney award with a perfect score of 20 ranks. 

“Patrick McDonald’s closings particularly stood out to me,” Leblanc said. “He did an excellent job in both those rounds and had a really good performance. He was responsive to the round and so fun to listen to.”

Noller said the tournament gave the team fuel for the upcoming competitions. 

“We know the areas that we need to work on,” Noller said. “We’re really happy with the potential we have on the team. So for sure, we’re very excited — it’s lighting a fire.”

Leblanc also said the tournament will motivate Kangaroo Court in the upcoming weeks. 

“Getting fifth was good for the team because it helps us believe in ourselves and yet also be hungry to do well in the next tournaments,” Leblanc said. 

According to an email from Noller, Kangaroo Court will next compete at the Wisconsin Badger the Witness Invitational, while Platypus Deniability is scheduled for the Harvard Boston Tea Party.