Dear RUMTA Family,
It’s that time of year again: Rutgers Mock Trial is back! As we dawn on our 20th year of RUMTA, big things are happening within our organization. From competing at our first set of invitationals, to hosting the Ninth Annual Scarlet Knight Mock Trial Invitational, let’s recap our hot start.
Scarlet beats Crimson
We will start with our A-team who sailed up to Boston to compete at Harvard’s Boston Tea Party invitational. A-team proved last season was the standard, not the exception. RUMTA placed 2nd overall with a 6-2 record and the highest PD in the field. The A-team didn’t stop there, with Maulikaa Manikantan bringing home an outstanding attorney award, and Captain Alice Ko taking home an outstanding witness award.
B-team bests Boston
RUMTA wasn’t done with Boston, so when B-team went to compete at the 18th Annual Tufts Mumbo Jumbo Invitational, they were ready to take over. Keeping up with the momentum from last year, B-team was ready to be the best. Under the leadership of Captain Frances Michaels, in one of the toughest invites of the fall season, B-team received an honorable mention with a 5.5-2.5 record.
Rutgers takes on Penn State
Rutgers Mock Trial went to Penn State’s Happy Valley Invitational, and unlike the Rutgers football team, our C-team meant business. Despite how strong the field was, our C-team didn’t shy away from the competition. They had a strong showing, with Captain Kelsey Coffey winning an outstanding attorney award.
SKMTI Was a Success!
Our Ninth Annual Scarlet Knight Mock Trial Invitational was yet another success and we have many people to credit. First we have to recognize this year’s tournament director Maulikaa Manikantan and her assistants Liam Carroll and Tasneem Haque. We also must thank the people crunching the numbers, with Alice Ko as tab director and Shayan Chaudhury assisting. We are also grateful for our generous sponsors at RAM Law and the Middlesex County Bar Association for helping make trial advocacy more accessible. I also want to give some recognition to the alumni who came back to judge! This tournament would not have been possible without any of you.
In Closing
RUMTA has been putting in the work this fall, but we will continue to work even harder to take home the national title. After a successful first set of invitationals, the future is bright for the Scarlet Knights. Next up we have A-team headed to Virginia, B-team headed to Columbia, and C-team headed to Seton Hall. Be on the look out for many more trophies on the way.
We wanted to thank all of you for your support of our program throughout these past 20 years. RUMTA’s alumni are our biggest strength. Until next time, from our RUMTA family to yours, Happy Holidays!