EASTON, Pa.(www.lafayette.edu), March 27, 2008 — One of Lafayette’s two Mock Trial teams collected an honorable mention in recognition of its performance at the national level, as well as several students taking individual awards, at the Hamilton National Tournament March 7-9 hosted by Miami University at the Butler County Government Services Center in Hamilton, Ohio.
Receiving individual awards for best witness were Margi Schierberl ’10 (West Hartford, Conn.), an English major, and Mock Trial president Adam Pie ’08 (Doylestown, Pa.), a history major. Schierberl ranked as the top overall witness with the highest score. Timothy Daniel Reynolds ’08 (Gates Mills, Ohio), an economics and business major, also received an individual award for best attorney for his performance.
The team receiving honorable mention is comprised of Pie; Schierberl; Sara Bruno ’08 (Wilkes Barre, Pa.), a government & law and American studies double major and team captain; Rich Beatty ’08 (Milford, N.J.), a history and government & law double major; Jeff Beavan ’09 (Nazareth, Pa.), who is pursuing a BS in civil engineering and an AB in economics and business, Steve Beavan ’11 (Nazareth, Pa.); Amy Polizzano ’08 (Bethlehem, Pa.), a government & law and English double major; and Elizabeth Mancuso ’11 (Nanuet, N.Y.), a civil engineering major.
The second team is comprised of Ryan Osterweil ’08 (Forest Hills, N.Y.), team co-captain and a chemistry major; Taryn Ann Barry ’09 (Bridgewater, N.J.), team co-captain and a history and government & law double major; Brett Doyle ’11 (Lakeside, Conn.), a history major; Jason Pang ’10 (San Mateo, Calif.), a government & law major; Lisa Van Batavia ’08 (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.), a government & law and anthropology & sociology double major; Carolyn Fast ’10 (Rockaway, N.J.); and Reynolds.
“I could not be prouder of every member of my teams. At the beginning of the season we set a very high bar,” says Pie. “We had the challenge of making up the loss of a very talented senior class that graduated last year and incorporating the new members into the existing framework of our program. I am happy to say that not only did our returning members really step up this year, but our new members also really excelled in their first year in the program. I am very excited to see where this program is going to go with all the potential we now have with all of our members in the years to come.”
The team is coached by Diane Elliott ’74, visiting instructor of government and law, and Rob Fallone ’04. Carmella Karns, administrative assistant for forensics and the government and law department, serves as logistics coordinator for the team.
Fellow institutions represented at the national tournament include Bellarmine University, Clark University, University of Cincinnati, Colby College, Cornell University, Hamilton College, Harvard University, Fordham College, Howard University, University of Maryland, Miami University of Ohio, University of Michigan, Ohio Northern University, Penn State University, University of Pittsburgh, Roger Williams University, Temple University, St. Francis University of St. Bernard, Ohio, Tufts University, and Wellesley College.
