Northwood University’s Mock Trial Team has earned a coveted spot at the 2025 National Championship Tournament after a strong performance this weekend at an Opening Round of Championships tournament in Cincinnati, Ohio.
“Our students have worked tirelessly, demonstrating resilience, critical thinking, and excellent communications skills on their journey to creating a high-performance team,” said Northwood Mock Trial Coach Dr. DeLois Leapheart. “I am incredibly proud of this team. They are truly blessed to have this opportunity to compete at the highest level of collegiate mock trial competition.”
The road to nationals began in February, when 790 collegiate teams were given the opportunity to compete to advance to one of eight Opening Round of Championships tournaments in March. A total of 192 teams advanced to the Opening Round of Championships, and the 48 teams with the best records at the Opening Round of Championships advance to the National Championship Tournament, which the American Mock Trial Association will hold next month in Cleveland, Ohio.
Northwood secured its bid to nationals by winning trials against Dickinson College, Georgetown University, and the University of Pittsburgh. In a highly competitive final round against Michigan State University, Northwood split ballots, with one scoring judge awarding Northwood a victory by four points while the other scored MSU ahead by the same margin.
In addition to the team award, two Northwood students earned individual recognition for their outstanding performance. Gabriel Cerda, of Westland, Michigan, won an Outstanding Witness Award, and Barrett Tefft, of Davison, Michigan, won an Outstanding Attorney Award. Other students attending the Opening Round of Championships at the University of Cincinnati included (all hometowns located in Michigan):
• Excellent Abikphi, Midland
• Maze Guza, Ubly
• Aaron Harvey, Saginaw
• Riley Hayer, Clare
• Hayden Kutchinski, Freeland
• Julian Lee, Macomb
• Parker Maples, Howell
• Johnathan Schwegler, Grand Blanc
• Laina Tomei, Shelby Township
• Conrad Waldie, Vassar
• Evelyn Wells, Troy
• Winston Wilcox, Camden
Dr. Leapheart thanks current and former Northwood faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and local attorneys who have supported the team throughout the season.
“A special thanks also goes to our assistant coaches, Jake Walters and Stephen Dunn, two Northwood alumni who have provided invaluable guidance and mentorship to our students,” Dr. Leapheart added.
On Sunday, March 16, 2025, the American Mock Trial Association released an entirely new 119-page case, giving students less than three weeks to prepare for the National Championship Tournament.
“With just 17 days until the first trial at the National Championship Tournament, our team is ready to embrace this challenge with the same determination and dedication to continuous improvement that got us here,” Leapheart stated on March 18, 2025. “We are excited to represent Northwood University on the national stage and compete against some of the best teams in the country.”
For more information about Northwood University’s Mock Trial program, visit www.northwood.edu/student-life/organizations/mock-trial/
