Missouri State University Mock Trial team shines at tournament

In only the fourth year of the program, the Missouri State University Mock Trial team clinched first and third place wins at the Derek Morehead and Irene Downs Tournament hosted by the University of Missouri-Kansas City from Nov. 18-19, 2023.
Four team members also won individual awards.
Students on the first-place team include:
- Zach Arnold (St. Charles, ; team captain)
- Zackary Collison (Alexandria, Va).
- Victoria Ogbeifun (Republic; team captain)
- Shelbee Reeves (Independence)
- Josh Roberts (Springfield)
- Alyssa Roney (Centertown)
Students on the third-place team include:
- Delilah Boggs (Marshfield)
- Ameliya Gerlt (Birmingham)
- Alex Rapp (Nixa)
- Hannah Killion (Springfield)
- Layna Mangiapanello (O’Fallon; team captain).
- Clemmie Taylor (Mansfield; team captain)
These students also won individual awards:
- Arnold - Outstanding Defense Witness
- Collison - Outstanding Prosecution Witness and Outstanding Defense Witness
- Mangiapanello - Outstanding Prosecution Attorney
- Ogbeifun - Outstanding Prosecution Attorney and Outstanding Defense Attorney
“To have this kind of success so early in our history is a testament to the talent and work ethic our students exhibit,” said Dr. Jennifer LaPrade, criminology assistant professor and team head coach. “I’m so proud of our team and I thank everyone who supports this program.”
MSU Director of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice Dr. Brett Garland praised the team for its incredible achievement.
“These exceptional students represented our school, the Reynolds College and MSU with such class,” he said.

More about the tournament
This tournament is part of the American Mock Trial Association’s invitational tournaments. During the fall and early spring, invitational tournaments are held around the country to allow teams to practice and prepare for AMTA-sanctioned tournaments in February through April.
Over 700 mock trial teams at universities nationwide receive a packet of evidence, legal documents and case law in mid-August and create prosecution and defense cases as a team.
Students then present criminal trials, playing both attorneys and witnesses. They compete against other teams to present the most realistic and compelling criminal trials using proper courtroom procedure and rules of evidence.
“This activity helps build confidence, public speaking skills, teamwork, critical thinking and so much more in students,” LaPrade said. “No matter what career a student is pursuing, mock trial can be such a valuable experience.”
Teams present four criminal trials over the trial period in front of eight judges. The mock trials are typically judged by actual sitting judges, trial attorneys, law professors, mock trial alumni or other mock trial coaches.
Besides MSU, the UMKC tournament attracted the participation of institutions, such as Creighton University, Saint Louis University, University of Arkansas, University of Kansas, University of Mississippi and U.S. Air Force Academy.