F&M Mock Trial’s “Team Amtrak” chugging their way to victory at Dickinson College, Oct. 13, 2024.
Authors Richie Dockery and Leo Puntoni are members of the Mock Trial team.
Franklin & Marshall College’s Mock Trial team has started 2024-2025 with strong showings at Dickinson College, La Salle University, and Millersville University the past few weeks. This year’s case, a murder mystery aboard the “Mid-Riverina Express” in Australia, has the team ‘all-aboard’ with the new case.
The new school year has brought many fresh faces to the team. From eager-eyed freshmen, returning seniors, and upperclassmen curious about mock trial, membership swelled to over three dozen this year. But, with all good things, new opportunities bring new challenges, namely accommodating such an expansive roster of aspiring attorneys.
With these challenges in mind, the mock trial team alternated who they sent to each competition, but ensured that everyone had the opportunity to compete.
Dickinson College, Oct. 12-13th
F&M mock trial was honored to receive their annual invitation to the Dickinson College “Red Devil Sleeping Bowtie” tournament. The convoluted name notwithstanding, Dickinson College mock trial proved–yet again–to be gracious hosts.
Led by team captains Emily Brossman ‘25 and Jacob Port ‘27, F&M’s “Team Amtrak” was pitted against tough opponents in Seton Hall University, Alvernia University, and Bryn Mawr College. Narrowly defeated by three points facing the ever-vigorous Seton Hall, Team Amtrak redeemed themselves with a convincing 17-point triumph over Alvernia, and a tie with Bryn Mawr.
Facing Seton Hall in a fourth-round rematch, F&M mock trial put up a scrappy defense against the nationally ranked team, though gracefully accepting defeat in the eleventh hour.
Although leaving the Carlisle, Pennsylvania-based tournament with a slight losing record, F&M suffered only quality losses against the nationally prominent Seton Hall. In this light, Diplomats mock trial conducted itself brilliantly, winning several awards;
Emily Brossman ‘25, Richie Dockery ‘26, and Jacob Port ‘27, won awards for their roles as attorneys and witnesses, respectively. Sharing the pedestal with Binghamton University, Yale University, NYU, among others, F&M left Carlisle with nothing to be ashamed of, and thankful for their magnanimous hosts, Dickinson mock trial.
In a marked improvement over last year, Dickinson College’s Denny Hall, where the tournament was hosted, is equipped with a less-than-functional air conditioning unit. However, unlike last year, no Diplomats struggled with heatstroke–to the great delight of many veteran competitors.
Furthermore, several newcomers distinguished themselves at Dickinson, including John Laube ‘28, the “star witness” of the defense; Leo Puntoni ‘28, who wowed judges with his European accent–variously, though incorrectly, described as Scottish or Australian; and upperclassmen Brennan Havey ‘25, proving it’s never too late to try something new!
La Salle University, Oct. 19-20th
The following weekend, “Team Kelly,” led by captains Audrey Lesser ‘25 and Simon Rothfeld ‘27, made their debut at the first-annual La Salle University invitational. In the heart of North Philadelphia, the La Salle tournament proved a trial-by-fire for the freshmen-heavy roster.
Nevertheless, Team Kelly conducted themselves remarkably in the new environment.
La Salle slated F&M with another world-class catalog of opponents, pitting the Diplomats against West Chester University, La Salle University themselves, and F&M’s love-hate rival: Seton Hall.
Facing not one, but two, rematches against Seton Hall, familiar faces on both sides found humor in the constant, albeit coincidental, face-offs. Although an ever-friendly competition with Seton Hall, perhaps the affinity is a case of Stockholm Syndrome, as F&M went down in–yet again–another narrow defeat.
However, the competition wasn’t the only thing heating up at La Salle; the tournament hall was 83 Fahrenheit, confounded by the suit-and-tie attire demanded by mock trial. The Diplomats, mistaking the scorching heat of the trial room for the metaphorical “heat” of their case, were extinguished by defeat.
Ever selfless in victory, Seton Hall’s team captain, Heather, offered Team Kelly valuable advice on training for tournaments, among other tips. F&M mock trial will be keeping an eye out for Seton Hall at future tournaments–fifth time’s the charm!
Down, but never disheartened, Team Kelly scored convincing wins over La Salle and West Chester, ending the tournament with a clean record. With an even record and again only quality losses to Seton Hall, the F&M mock trial won several further accolades:
Team captain Audrey Lesser won a much-deserved award for her defense advocacy, bolstered by her striking closing arguments; Richie Dockery won another award as the tournament-wide best plaintiffs attorney; MJ Mancini ‘27, in an outstanding feat for a newcomer, won an award for her witness testimony in her first-ever tournament.
Though walking away from both Dickinson and La Salle empty-handed, newcomer Brennan Havey proved to be the unofficial rookie of the year. Havey’s performance was stellar, though falling short of an award, far surpassing many veteran competitors. Additionally, Havey proved himself an able teammate, always ready to lend a hand with his appreciated upbeat attitude.
Millersville University, Nov. 3rd
In the crowning achievement of F&M mock trial’s recent competitions, Team Amtrak returned to the counsel table to scrimmage Millersville University. In a friendly trial moderated by former Asst. District Attorney Lance Green, F&M mock trial bested hometown rival Millersville. Both sides demonstrated fearsome courtroom finesse–though the deciding factor came down to F&M’s phenomenal witnesses.
Returning competitors Aashi Dadhania ‘27 and Jacob Port, joined by freshman Leo Puntoni, awed Asst. D.A. Green, tipping the scales in F&M’s favor.
Impressed with Jacob Port in particular, Green commented, “I would hire you,” later continuing, “You had me. I was convinced you were a real doctor,” alluding to Port’s role as the expert witness in the case. Port’s performance also earned him a favorable–though tongue-in-cheek–comparison to beloved fictional surgeon Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd, from the hit series Grey’s Anatomy.
Nonetheless, Millersville taught F&M many valuable takeaways in victory. Specifically, the team may have an overfocus on the attorney side of the competition, neglecting our deep pool of witness talent. With the lessons of the past several weeks of competition behind them, the team is ready and spirited for Regionals at the start of the Spring semester.
Go Dips!
Junior Richie Dockery is a Former Staff Writer. His email is rdockery@fandm.edu.
Freshman Leo Puntoni is a Contributing Writer. His email is gpuntoni@fandm.edu.
Freshman Lavanya Seshasayee is a Staff Writer. Her email is lseshasa@fandm.edu.