Fall Invitational Results
Monday, 17 November 2008 05:00 | 
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The Paladins have competed at the Sanders Invitational, Lexington, KY; Classic City Invitational, Athens, GA; Steel City Invitational, Pittsburgh, PA; Derby Challenge, Louisville, KY; Tobacco Road Invitational, Durham, NC; and Mid-South Invitational, Murfreesboro, TN. To date, we've not brought home any team trophies, but we have had several individual award winners. Moreover, these tournaments have shown us which programs are emerging as powers in the 09-10 season and how we must improve to reach of our goal of being the 2010 National Champions. Additionally, our program continues to offer a mock trial experience to a large number of students. . .
Furman doesn't use its resources just to work with the most seasoned teams, and this is a tradition that no other highly touted program in the nation employs. We can pursue this philosophy because of the strong support we receive from the Association of Furman Students, the University administration, and our stalwart supporters.
Sanders Invitational, Lexington, Kentucky, October 24 Team Purple: 3 Wins, 5 Losses: Loss both ballots to Loyola of Chicago A; defeated Eastern Kentucky A on both ballots; lost and won against Cincinnati; lost and won against Rhodes A.Team White: 3 Wins, 5 losses: Lost and won against Eastern Kentucky B; lost both ballots to Ohio State A; won and lost against Rhodes B; won and lost against Ohio State B. Loyola, Chicago A was the 2nd place teamOhio State A was the 6th place teamCincinnati was the 8th place Purple was led by Meredith Dempsey '10, Lexington, SC, and Emily Westberry '11, Watkinsville, GA. Other members of the purple squad were: Morgan Bridgman '12, Amsterdam, NetherlandsKenny Palmer '13, Lake City, SCTom Lewis '13, Dallas, TXPrenita Hudson '11, Walterboro, SCJames Butler '11, Dothan, ALJan Lukas '10, Berlin, MDTaylor Senseney Crouch '13, Kennesaw, GA White was led by Will Gyauch '10, Lexington, SC, and Elizabeth Stell '10, Fayetteville, GA. Other members of the white squad were: Lindsey Roberts '13, Ashland, OHAmanda Michalski '13, Kingsport, TNThomas Hydrick '13, Columbia, SCAlyssa Richardson '12, Columbia, SCLatasia Fields '10, Charlotte, NCAlex Meier '10, Oviedo, FLRyan Roberts '12, Marietta, GABrice Cantrell '11, Pawtucket, RI Classic City Invitational, Athens, Georgia, October 24-25 Team Paladins: 3 Wins, 5 Losses: Won both ballots against Middle Tennessee; dropped both ballots to Florida; dropped both ballots to Emory; won and lost against South Carolina. The Paladins were led by Christina Antalis '10, Dalton, GA, and Dwayne Barrs '10, Lawrenceville, GA. Other members of the squad were Chris Geddie '11, Greer, SCSarah Morano '13, New Canaan, CTAnna McDanal '12, Hatchecubee, ALChade Franklin '11, Milledgeville, GALee Schuitema '13, Charlotte, NCShanada Adams '13, Rock Hill, SCErin Frazer '12, Simpsonville, SC Following the Sanders and Classic City, the coaching staff restacked our teams into the A, B, C, and D teams to enhance our competitiveness during the November invitationals. Derby Challenge, Louisville, Kentucky, November 6-8 B Team: 4 Wins, 3 Losses, 1 Tie. Loss both to UCLA, won and tied against Miami B; won both against Rhodes A; won and lost against Miami A. This team is led by Morgan Bridgman '12, Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Alex Meier '10, Oviedo, FL. Other team members are: Ameer Armaly '11, Greenville, SCLatasia Fields '10, Charlotte, NCMattson Smith '13, Tega Cay, SC Brittany Weynand '13 Boerne, TXAdam Lalor '13, Nashville, TNDwayne Barrs '10, Lawrenceville, GA UCLA was 3rd at this tournament and Miami A was 4th. Steel City Invitational, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 7-8 A Team: 5 wins, 3 losses. Win and loss to George Washington B, won both over Maryland A, won both over Miami A, and lost both to Northwood. Team is led by Meredith Dempsey '10, Lexington, SC, and Will Gyauch '10, Lexington, SC. Other team members are: Katherine Myers '10, Columbia, SCJan Lukas '10, Berlin, MDBrice Cantrell '11, Pawtucket, RIEmily Westberry '11, Watkinsville, GAThomas Hydrick '13, Columbia, SCTaylor Senseney Crouch '13, Kennesaw, GASarah Jennings '12, Littleton, CO Meredith Dempsey was awarded an outstanding attorney award. Northwood finished 2nd at the tournament. George Washington is the top-ranked program in the nation and the defending national runner up; Maryland's program has won the national championship five times--no team has won it more; Miami is a top-ranked program and 2001 national champion, and Northwood is the defending national champion. Tobacco Road Invitational, Durham, NC, November 7-8 C Team: 3 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie. Lost both to Richmond, won both over Georgia Tech, lost and tied to Duke, and won and lost against North Carolina-Chapel Hill Team is led by Christina Antalis '10, Dalton, GA, and Emily Bridges '12, Greenville, SC Other team members are: Tom Lewis '13, Dallas, TXKenny Palmer '13, Lake City, SCAnna McDanal '12, Hatchechubee, ALAlyssa Richardson '12, Columbia, SCChris Geddie '11, Greer, SCJosh Russell '12, Simpsonville, SC Alyssa Richardson was awarded an outstanding attorney award. Mid-South Invitational, Murfreesboro, TN, November 13-14 D Team: 4 wins, 3 losses, and 1 tie. Won both over Emory, lost both to South Carolina A, won both over Samford, tied and lost to North Carolina. Team is led by Catie Donnelly '13, Charleston, SC, and Lindsey Roberts '13, Ashland, OH. Other team members are: James Butler '11, Dothan, ALEkow Bartels-Kodwo '13, Accra, GhanaAmanda Michalski '13, Kingsport, TNShanada Adams '13, Rock Hill, SCLee Schuitema '13, Charlotte, NCSara Morano '13, New Canaan, CT The team played a tough schedule in our 32-team division: South Carolina A finished in 1st place; North Carolina finished in 8th; Emory finished in 6th place. The only ballots that Emory lost was to Furman. James Butler earned a perfect score and an outstanding witness award for his portrayal of Sal Baxamusa, a quirky character who is the closest thing there is to an eyewitness in this year's case, a murder trial. Our fall season ends this following weekend when our E Team competes in the one-day Owl Classic at Kennesaw State, and our A team goes to Washington, D.C. for the Great American Mock Trial Invitational, the most elite tournament of the fall season--a veritable national championship of the fall season. The teams are coached by an amazing group of dedicated folks, many of whom are alums of the mock trial program. The 09-10 staff is: D. Brad Rustin '03, Jessica Rustin, Steven Buckingham '03, Ashleigh Ward '03, Libby Weith '06, Dawn Williams '05, Mark Fessler '05, Titus Nichols, and Dr. Margaret Oakes. Jessica got roped into coaching by marrying Brad in late June. We are delighted to have her on staff. Titus Nichols is a graduate of Morehouse College and the University of Georgia Law School; he will begin as an associate at the Haynsworth firm in February, and he has many connections to Furman mocker alums who attended UGA Law. He's a terrific asset to our program, and we know why he comes so highly recommended by his friends. Dr. Oakes is Associate Professor of English, and we are welcoming her back to the staff after a 10-year hiatus. I'd challenge any program in the country to have a better staff than the Paladins. Couple that fact with our amazing students, and I am confident that we will be reporting some impressive results by the end of the season--when it counts.
Sanders Invitational, Lexington, Kentucky, October 24 Team Purple: 3 Wins, 5 Losses: Loss both ballots to Loyola of Chicago A; defeated Eastern Kentucky A on both ballots; lost and won against Cincinnati; lost and won against Rhodes A.Team White: 3 Wins, 5 losses: Lost and won against Eastern Kentucky B; lost both ballots to Ohio State A; won and lost against Rhodes B; won and lost against Ohio State B. Loyola, Chicago A was the 2nd place teamOhio State A was the 6th place teamCincinnati was the 8th place Purple was led by Meredith Dempsey '10, Lexington, SC, and Emily Westberry '11, Watkinsville, GA. Other members of the purple squad were: Morgan Bridgman '12, Amsterdam, NetherlandsKenny Palmer '13, Lake City, SCTom Lewis '13, Dallas, TXPrenita Hudson '11, Walterboro, SCJames Butler '11, Dothan, ALJan Lukas '10, Berlin, MDTaylor Senseney Crouch '13, Kennesaw, GA White was led by Will Gyauch '10, Lexington, SC, and Elizabeth Stell '10, Fayetteville, GA. Other members of the white squad were: Lindsey Roberts '13, Ashland, OHAmanda Michalski '13, Kingsport, TNThomas Hydrick '13, Columbia, SCAlyssa Richardson '12, Columbia, SCLatasia Fields '10, Charlotte, NCAlex Meier '10, Oviedo, FLRyan Roberts '12, Marietta, GABrice Cantrell '11, Pawtucket, RI Classic City Invitational, Athens, Georgia, October 24-25 Team Paladins: 3 Wins, 5 Losses: Won both ballots against Middle Tennessee; dropped both ballots to Florida; dropped both ballots to Emory; won and lost against South Carolina. The Paladins were led by Christina Antalis '10, Dalton, GA, and Dwayne Barrs '10, Lawrenceville, GA. Other members of the squad were Chris Geddie '11, Greer, SCSarah Morano '13, New Canaan, CTAnna McDanal '12, Hatchecubee, ALChade Franklin '11, Milledgeville, GALee Schuitema '13, Charlotte, NCShanada Adams '13, Rock Hill, SCErin Frazer '12, Simpsonville, SC Following the Sanders and Classic City, the coaching staff restacked our teams into the A, B, C, and D teams to enhance our competitiveness during the November invitationals. Derby Challenge, Louisville, Kentucky, November 6-8 B Team: 4 Wins, 3 Losses, 1 Tie. Loss both to UCLA, won and tied against Miami B; won both against Rhodes A; won and lost against Miami A. This team is led by Morgan Bridgman '12, Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Alex Meier '10, Oviedo, FL. Other team members are: Ameer Armaly '11, Greenville, SCLatasia Fields '10, Charlotte, NCMattson Smith '13, Tega Cay, SC Brittany Weynand '13 Boerne, TXAdam Lalor '13, Nashville, TNDwayne Barrs '10, Lawrenceville, GA UCLA was 3rd at this tournament and Miami A was 4th. Steel City Invitational, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 7-8 A Team: 5 wins, 3 losses. Win and loss to George Washington B, won both over Maryland A, won both over Miami A, and lost both to Northwood. Team is led by Meredith Dempsey '10, Lexington, SC, and Will Gyauch '10, Lexington, SC. Other team members are: Katherine Myers '10, Columbia, SCJan Lukas '10, Berlin, MDBrice Cantrell '11, Pawtucket, RIEmily Westberry '11, Watkinsville, GAThomas Hydrick '13, Columbia, SCTaylor Senseney Crouch '13, Kennesaw, GASarah Jennings '12, Littleton, CO Meredith Dempsey was awarded an outstanding attorney award. Northwood finished 2nd at the tournament. George Washington is the top-ranked program in the nation and the defending national runner up; Maryland's program has won the national championship five times--no team has won it more; Miami is a top-ranked program and 2001 national champion, and Northwood is the defending national champion. Tobacco Road Invitational, Durham, NC, November 7-8 C Team: 3 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie. Lost both to Richmond, won both over Georgia Tech, lost and tied to Duke, and won and lost against North Carolina-Chapel Hill Team is led by Christina Antalis '10, Dalton, GA, and Emily Bridges '12, Greenville, SC Other team members are: Tom Lewis '13, Dallas, TXKenny Palmer '13, Lake City, SCAnna McDanal '12, Hatchechubee, ALAlyssa Richardson '12, Columbia, SCChris Geddie '11, Greer, SCJosh Russell '12, Simpsonville, SC Alyssa Richardson was awarded an outstanding attorney award. Mid-South Invitational, Murfreesboro, TN, November 13-14 D Team: 4 wins, 3 losses, and 1 tie. Won both over Emory, lost both to South Carolina A, won both over Samford, tied and lost to North Carolina. Team is led by Catie Donnelly '13, Charleston, SC, and Lindsey Roberts '13, Ashland, OH. Other team members are: James Butler '11, Dothan, ALEkow Bartels-Kodwo '13, Accra, GhanaAmanda Michalski '13, Kingsport, TNShanada Adams '13, Rock Hill, SCLee Schuitema '13, Charlotte, NCSara Morano '13, New Canaan, CT The team played a tough schedule in our 32-team division: South Carolina A finished in 1st place; North Carolina finished in 8th; Emory finished in 6th place. The only ballots that Emory lost was to Furman. James Butler earned a perfect score and an outstanding witness award for his portrayal of Sal Baxamusa, a quirky character who is the closest thing there is to an eyewitness in this year's case, a murder trial. Our fall season ends this following weekend when our E Team competes in the one-day Owl Classic at Kennesaw State, and our A team goes to Washington, D.C. for the Great American Mock Trial Invitational, the most elite tournament of the fall season--a veritable national championship of the fall season. The teams are coached by an amazing group of dedicated folks, many of whom are alums of the mock trial program. The 09-10 staff is: D. Brad Rustin '03, Jessica Rustin, Steven Buckingham '03, Ashleigh Ward '03, Libby Weith '06, Dawn Williams '05, Mark Fessler '05, Titus Nichols, and Dr. Margaret Oakes. Jessica got roped into coaching by marrying Brad in late June. We are delighted to have her on staff. Titus Nichols is a graduate of Morehouse College and the University of Georgia Law School; he will begin as an associate at the Haynsworth firm in February, and he has many connections to Furman mocker alums who attended UGA Law. He's a terrific asset to our program, and we know why he comes so highly recommended by his friends. Dr. Oakes is Associate Professor of English, and we are welcoming her back to the staff after a 10-year hiatus. I'd challenge any program in the country to have a better staff than the Paladins. Couple that fact with our amazing students, and I am confident that we will be reporting some impressive results by the end of the season--when it counts.