Mock Trial Defeats UGA in Season’s First Tournament

Georgia Tech’s mock trial team won its first tournament of the season, hosted by the University of Georgia at the Fulton County Courthouse on Oct. 22-23. 

It is the first time in six years that Georgia Tech’s team has taken first place at the annual tournament, according to Will Warihay, a part-time lecturer in the School of Public Policy. Warihay coaches the team with fellow lecturer and attorney Andy McNeil, Public Policy 2001. 

“Over the course of the weekend, we competed against teams from all of our Southeastern rivals, as every school we went against also competed at the National Championship Tournament last year,” Warihay said. “The competition was stiff, but our Jackets were up to the challenge.” 

The squad led by third-year Biomedical Engineering student Lyla Zedell and fourth-year Computer Engineering student Naman Sarda took first place in the tournament’s final match. 

Zedell was named the top attorney in the competition and received an Outstanding Attorney Award. 

Olivia Sanford, a third-year Public Policy major competing in her first mock trial competition, earned an Outstanding Witness Award. Harrison Melton, a fourth-year Computer Science student from Atlanta, received an Outstanding Attorney Award. 

Georgia Tech’s mock trial team is frequently ranked nationally and considered one of the nation’s best, even though Georgia Tech does not offer a law degree or provide scholarships to mock trial students. Last year, the team placed 10th in the national tournament and sixth in its division. 

Some members are also pursuing the Law, Science, and Technology (LST) minor offered by the School of Public Policy to students from across campus. The program exposes students to legal concepts and practical career information beneficial both to students considering a career in law and those in other fields who want to understand more about how elements of legal practice can be helpful in other professions. 

For more information on the minor, visit the LST website.