The Ohio State University Mock Trial program is entering the new season with momentum after a year filled with national achievements, individual honors, and record-setting.
This spring, Ohio State sent both its A and B Teams to the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) National Championship Tournament, marking the first time since 2019 that the program qualified two teams for Nationals. The appearance also represented Ohio State's tenth consecutive National Championship berth. Both teams performed exceptionally well, with Ohio State's A Team finishing 11th in the nation.
Ohio State also earned two All-American awards, recognizing outstanding individual performances at the National Championship Tournament. The honors marked the first time since 2019 that the program brought home two All-American awards in the same season.
The program's success continued over the summer. Rising junior Melissa McMahon, the youngest competitor in program history to earn All-American recognition, was selected to compete in Trial by Combat, an elite invitational hosted by UCLA Law's Trial Team featuring 16 of the nation's top collegiate mock trial attorneys. McMahon earned the distinction as a sophomore, an accomplishment achieved by only a handful of students nationally. She has been invited back for next summer's competition.
Rising senior Angela Ryan was selected to compete in The Gauntlet at the University of Texas at Austin, one of the nation's premier competitions for collegiate mock trial witnesses. Her selection made history alongside McMahon's, marking the first time Ohio State was represented at both Trial by Combat and The Gauntlet in the same year.
Adding to the excitement, Ohio State was recently ranked 5th in the nation in AMTA's preseason rankings, the highest preseason ranking in program history.
These accomplishments reflect the dedication of the team's students and coaches and the continued support of the Department of Political Science. Through mock trial, students develop critical skills in advocacy, analytical thinking, teamwork, and public speaking that prepare them for careers in law, public service, and beyond.
With two Nationals teams returning, two All-American honorees, representation at both premier summer competitions, and the highest preseason ranking in program history, Ohio State Mock Trial is poised for another exciting year and looks forward to continuing its tradition of excellence.