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2026

The Winning Team: Stetson University School of Law
Second Place: DePaul University School of Law

Matthew Schnirel Memorial Best Advocate Award
Brianna Barron, Stetson University College of Law

Semi-finalists: 

  • DePaul University College of Law
  • Mercer University School of Law
  • Stetson University College of Law
  • University of Baltimore School of Law

Preliminary round honors:
Individual awards recognized the advocates who distinguished themselves during the first four rounds.

Best Opening Statement - Three-way Tie

  • Aaron Lieberman, University of Illinois Chicago School of Law
  • Claire Holmes, Lewis & Clark Law School
  • Brianna Serafin, Stetson University College of Law

Best Direct Examination

  • Talon Sulfridge, University of Tennessee Winston College of Law

Best Cross Examination

  • Katherine Saenz, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law

Best Closing Argument

  • Amber Gaylord, University of Wisconsin Law School

Hon. Thomas P. Franczyk Best Overall Advocate

  • Ahad Khan, University of Baltimore School of Law

Teams selected Shayna Gorski '14 as the competition’s Best Judge.

  • Champion: Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law
  • Runner-Up: University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law
  • Best Advocate - Matthew Schnirel Award: Deandre Bell (Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law)
  • Best Opening Statement: Brandon Hoolihan (Fordham University School of Law)
  • Best Direct Examination: Destiny Rodriguez (Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law)
  • Best Cross Examination (tie):
     Tiara Arties (University of Missouri–Kansas City)
    John Defranco (University of Illinois Chicago School of Law)
    Tingyi Guo (DePaul University College of Law)
    Belle Yeager (Stetson College of Law)
  • Best Closing Argument: Deandre Bell (Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law)
  • Hon. Thomas P. Franczyk Best Overall Advocate:
     Benjamin Compton (University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law)
     Kieran Woerner (University of Denver Sturm College of Law)
  • Most Professional Team:
     University of Denver Sturm College of Law
     The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law
  • Best Jury Appeal:
     Stetson College of Law
    Syracuse University College of Law
  • Best Judge: Hon. Monica P. Wallace ’94
  • First Place Team: Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law
  • Second Place Team: Stetson University College of Law
  • Best Advocate Award: Arturo Alvarez (Nova Southeastern)
  • Best Opening: Caroline Kulits (Northwestern), Arturo Alverez (Nova Southeastern), Robert Kaplowitz (Drexel Kline) & Beene Naulapwa (Pacific McGeorge)
  • Best Direct Examination: Emily McLaughlin (Drexel Kline) & MacKenzie Palmer (Washington University School)
  • Best Cross Examination: George Saad (Syracuse University)
  • Best Closing Argument: Zachary Cotter (Drexel Kline)
  • Hon. Thomas P. Franczyk Best Overall Advocate: Xavier Russell (Nova Southeastern)
  • Most Professional Team:  Pacific McGeorge
  • Best Witness:  Dedman School of Law (Southern Methodist University)
  • Best Judge:  Hon. John Licata, Fonda Kubiak
  • First Place Team: St. John's University School of Law
  • Second Place Team: University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law
  • Best Advocate Award: Jonathan Carelli (St. John's University School of Law)
  • Best Opening (Tie): Hannah Sowell (Stetson University College of Law); Olivia Bess-Rhodes (University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law); Luke Bradt (University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School)
  • Best Direct Examination: Allison Schmidt (Hofstra University Maurice A. Deane School of Law)
  • Best Cross Examination: Emmanuel Centeno (Chicago-Kent College of Law)
  • Best Closing Argument (Tie): Jamie Santana (University of Illinois Chicago School of Law) & Jacob Eisenhauer (University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law)
  • Hon. Thomas P. Franczyk Best Overall Advocate:  Kris Chaney (University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law)
  • Buffalo Niagara Trial Competition Winner: Nova Southeastern
  • Best Opening: Jake Dianno, Villanova
  • Best Direct Examination: Ben Ellison, NKU Chase
  • Best Cross Examination: Tie between Daniel Holtzer, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and Austin Sperl, Hofstra Law
  • Best Closing Argument: Alicia Armstrong, Penn State Law
  • Hon. Thomas P. Franczyk Best Overall Advocate: Bri Goodchild, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
  • Buffalo Niagara Trial Competition Winner: Yale Law School
  • Best Advocate: Ryanne Bamieh, Yale Law School
  • Best Opening: Clio Koller, Yale Law School
  • Best Direct Examination: Don Daniel, Washington University - St. Louis, School of Law
  • Best Cross Examination: Catherine Ingersoll, Quinnipiac University School of Law
  • Best Closing Argument: Shannon Lin, Washington University - St. Louis, St. Louis, School of Law
  • Hon. Thomas P. Franczyk Best Overall Advocate: Gabrielle Kolencik, Duquesne University School of Law