Holy Cross Team Proves Successful at Moot Court Tournament

WORCESTER, Mass. – The College’s Moot Court team dominated the Southeast Moot Court regional tournament, hosted by the University of Tampa on Nov. 13 and 14, finishing 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th and winning three of the top 10 orator awards.

Team captains Elizabeth Conway ’10 and Cara Howe ’10 led by example going undefeated during the preliminary rounds on Nov. 13 and earned the number one seed heading into Saturday’s playoff rounds. Nipping at their heels were Erin Barrett ’10 and Molly Delaney ’10 who also went undefeated in the preliminary rounds earning the number three seed.

Two-and-a-half of the other Holy Cross teams also advanced to the playoffs on Saturday. Robert LiCalzi ’12 and Timothy Whooley ’11 advanced as a 7 seed and Katherine Andrew ’11 and Mark Weyland ’12 advanced as a 12 seed. The “half” Holy Cross team was represented by Stacie Provencher ’11 a first time competitor whose partner was stricken with the flu just days before the tournament started. The same thing happened to another student from Armstrong University and the two healthy competitors were paired up to compete. This “hybrid” team earned the 15 seed and advanced to the playoff rounds making Holy Cross the only school to advance all its competitors to the playoff rounds.

Based on their performances in Friday’s rounds Cara Howe, Elizabeth Conway and Katherine Andrew were awarded top 10 orator awards; 4th, 7th and 10th respectively out of a field of 48 advocates.

The second day brought tougher challenges and the students rose to meet them. The hybrid team was eliminated in the round of 16 by the eventual champions and two seed from Drake University. However, the remaining Holy Cross teams were victorious. Thus, in the quarter finals, every match up was a Holy Cross team versus another university. “You just can’t get away from them!” said Moot Court executive director Paul Weitzer as he announced the matchups.

After the quarter final round, two Holy Cross teams were left standing but were put in the difficult situation of having to compete against one another. Team captains Conway and Howe edged out Andrew and Weyland to advance to the finals against Drake University.

The final round was held in the State of Florida Second Appellate Circuit courtroom. The final judging panel was comprised of four judges with over 150 years of State and Federal judging experience. After 45 minutes of deliberation, the longest in Moot Court history, the judges were forced to make a decision. Despite a 2-2 split, the chief justice awarded the victory to Drake University. “I think those two judges were the only people in the room who thought Drake won that round,” said team coach John M. O’Donnell ’04.

But Conway and Howe will live to fight another day as they will compete at the National Moot Court Tournament held in Miami this January. Joining them will be Katherine Andrew, Erin Barrett, Molly Delaney and Mark Weyland. Robert Lizalzi and Timothy Whooley are likely to be awarded an “at large” bid to the National Tournament for their performance.

The Holy Cross Moot Court program was founded in 2003 by Scott Sandstrom, associate professor of economics and prelaw advisor. John O’Donnell ’04, who was a Moot Court team captain, now coaches the team. Holy Cross has been very successful with several top 5 finishes at the national tournament and numerous top orator awards.

By John M. O’Donnell ’04 Coach of the College of the Holy Cross Moot Court team