Trial Team - Competitions & Awards

Team Awards

The Director's Award

This annual award represents the highest standard of leadership, integrity, and responsibility within this program. It honors a graduating student who does the right thing—not for recognition, but because it is who they are—consistently putting the team first, embracing the unseen work, and holding themselves to a standard that does not waver when the spotlight fades. This individual leads not through words alone, but through disciplined action, quiet accountability, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. In moments of pressure, the recipient of this award does not shrink—they rise, taking full ownership of both successes and failures. Their leadership is not defined by perfection, but accountability. They possess the rare courage to confront their own shortcomings and mistakes openly, using those moments not only to grow personally, but to create a culture where others are empowered to do the same. Their leadership is defined by trust, responsibility, and authenticity, and their example leaves a lasting imprint on the program. This award recognizes not just an exceptional advocate, but a standard-bearer—someone who elevates the character, expectations, and integrity of everyone around them.

2026 Winner: Isabella Diaco

The Resiliance Award

This annual award honors a competitor in the graduating class who embodies unwavering grit, quiet strength, and unshakeable commitment to their team. In the face of significant personal adversity, this competitor never wavers—meeting every challenge with determination, leading and teaching those around them, embracing tough coaching, and rising to each moment without complaint and with utter professionalism. Through it all, this competitor leads by example, always has a smile on their face, constantly lifts-up those around them, and proves that true toughness is measured not just by endurance, but by the way one acts in the face of adversity.

2026 Winner: Lauren Townsend

The Ascent Award

This annual award recognizes a graduating student whose journey reflects one of the most remarkable upward trajectories in the program. Through sustained effort, openness to coaching, and unwavering determination, this advocate transformed their approach to the courtroom—growing in both skill and confidence with each opportunity. This award honors not just improvement, but the discipline, fortitude, and commitment required to never settle, continuously rise, and push oneself beyond limits they ever thought possible.

2026 Winner: Belle Yeager

The Tireless Advocate Award

This annual award is not just about the glory, but the grit. This award exists in honor of Cami DiGiacomo, whose remarkable commitment to the craft set the standard for what it means to truly give oneself to this team: competing 11 times during her tenure on the team—the most of any advocate ever since this program began in the 1980’s. Cami exemplified unyielding and unwavering determination to just keep going and just keep learning competition after competition, regardless of wins or losses. This award recognizes a student(s) who carries that same relentless and powerful spirit forward, no hesitation and no questions asked.

2026 Winners

2L Class: Ashley Aiken, Brianna Barron, & Alyssa Raulerson

3L Class: Taylor Atkins-Lewis, Isabella Diaco, Cameron Lulich, & Lauren Townsend

The Helping Hands Award

This annual award honors a quiet, steady teammate in each class whose impact is felt in every corner of the team through unwavering kindness. Without seeking recognition, these advocates consistently step in wherever needed, including behind the scenes in ways that most team-members never even know about. They embody work ethic and selflessness that exists not for the glory, but for the love and support of the game. They embody the very best of what it means to lead by example not necessarily through wins or awards, but through character.

2026 Winners

2L Class: Gabriel Loofe

3L Class: Esteban Villaneuva

The Champions Award

This annual award is given to all graduating students who have won an interschool competition championship during their tenure on the Trial Team.

2026 Recipients

Taylor Atkins-Lewis; Sarah Breland; Lucia Cabarrello-Bentley; Lorenzo Collazo; Megan DeVaney; Isabella Diaco; Haven Flaherty; Kaylyn Fox; Christopher Hewlett; Cameron Lulich; Lily Thrift; Lauren Townsend; & Belle Yeager

Competition Results

Listed below are the competition placements and awards achieved by Stetson's Trial Team since the year 2000. *If two results are listed (ex: Champion; Finalist), that is because two teams competed on behalf of Stetson in that competition.*

All Star Bracket Challenge

2025: Regional Champion; Best Advocate; National Quarterfinalist
2020: National Champion; Best Advocate

American Association of Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition (Regionals) (f/k/a ATLA)

2026: Champion
2025: Semifinalist (both teams)
2024: Finalist
2023: Finalist (Team Green); Semifinalist (Team White)
2022: Champion
2019: Champion
2018: Champion
2017: Champion; Finalist
2016: Semifinalists
2015: Champion
2014: Champion; Finalist
2013: Champion
2012: Champion
2011: Champion; Semifinalist
2010: Champion; Best Advocate
2009: Champion
2006: Champion
2005: Finalist
2004: Champion; Semifinalist
2003: Finalist; Semifinalist
2001: Finalist; Semifinalist
2000: Finalist (both teams)

American Association of Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition (Nationals) (f/k/a ATLA)

2019: Semifinalist
2017: Quarterfinalist
2015: Champion
2014: Semifinalist
2013: Quarterfinalist
2012: Semifinalist
2010: Quarterfinalist
2009: Champion
2004: Quarterfinalist

Amicus Cup

2026: Best Advocate
2025: Finalist, Best Theme & Theory
2023: Finalist; Best Prosecutor; Best Defense Attorney; Best Opening Statement; Best Direct Examination

Battle of the Experts

2024: Semifinalist
2022: Finalist

Buffalo-Niagara Mock Trial Competition

2025: Best Cross Examination; Best Jury Appeal
2024: Finalist
2023: Semifinalist; Best Opening Statement
2019: Octofinalist
2015: Semifinalist

Capitol City Challenge

2026 Champion; Best Opening Statement; Best Direct Examination; Best Evidence; Best Closing Argument
2025: Finalist
2024: Quarterfinalist; Best Advocate; Best Direct Examination
2023: Champion; Best Opening Statement; Best Direct Examination; Best Advocate
2018: Finalist
2017: Quarterfinalist

Constance Baker Motley BLSA Mock Trial Competition

2025 National: Quaterfinalist, Best Advocate
2025 Regional: Champion
2024 National: Quarterfinalist
2024 Regional: Champion
2022 Regional: Quarterfinalist
2020 National: Third Place
2020 Regional: Finalist

Chester-Bedell Memorial Mock Trial Competition

2026: Finalist and Runner-Up Best Advocate (Team White); Semfinalist (Team Green)
2024: Finalist and Runner-Up Best Advocate (Team Green); Quarterfinalist (Team White)
2023: Quarterfinalist (both teams)
2022: Quarterfinalist (both teams)
2021: Champions; Quarterfinalist; Best Advocate
2020: Champion; Quarterfinalist; Best Advocate
2019: Champion; Semifinalist
2017: Champion; Second Place - Finalist; Best Advocate
2016: Quarterfinalist
2015: Finalist; Best Advocate
2014: Champion; Finalist; Best Advocate
2013: Champion; Finalist; Best Advocate
2012: Champion; Best Advocate
2011: Semifinalists
2010: Semifinalists
2009: Champion; Best Advocate
2008: Finalist
2007: Champion; Best Advocate
2006: Champion; Best Advocate
2005: Champion; Best Advocate
2004: Champion; Best Advocate
2003: Finalist
2002: Semifinalist
2001: Finalist; Semifinalist
2000: Champion; Finalist; Best Advocate

Estrella Trial Advocacy Competition

2023: Finalist
2015: Semifinalist

First Chair Mock Trial Competition

2025: Semifinalist; Best Advocate; Most Professional Team

Florida Justice Association (f/k/a AFTL) Honorable E. Earle Zehmer Memorial Mock Trial Competition

2025: Semifinalist (both teams)
2024: Semifinalist (both teams)
2023: Champion; Best Advocate
2022: Semifinalist
2021: Semifinalist; Best Advocate
2019: Champion; Semifinalist; Best Advocate
2015: Champion; Best Advocate (Preliminary Rounds 1-4); Best Overall Advocate
2014: Champion
2013: Champion; Semifinalist
2011: Second Place - Finalist
2009: Semifinalist (both teams)
2008: Champion; Finalist
2007: Champion; Semifinalist
2006: Finalist
2005: Champion; Finalist
2004: Champion
2003: Champion; Finalist; Best Advocate
2002: Semifinalist
2001: Champion; Finalist; Best Advocate

John L. Costello National Criminal Law Trial Advocacy Competition

2023: Quarterfinalist; Best Advocate

Judge Paul Joseph Kelly, Jr. Invitational Trial Competition

2025: Quarterfinalist
2023: Semifinalist
2022: Quarterfinalist

Lone Star Classic*

*Competition no longer exists

2018: Semifinalist
2013: Best Cross-Examination
2012: Best Closing Argument
2011: Best Advocate Preliminary Rounds
2010: Semifinalists; Most Professional Team
2002: Finalist

Loyola-Chicago Dan K. Webb Advocate's Challenge

2026: Best Overall Advocate

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Civil Rights Mock Trial Competition

2023: Best Cross-Examination
2022: Champion; Best Opening Statement; Best Cross-Examination

National Civil Trial Competition

2025: Best Direct Examination
2023: Semifinalist
2022: Best Advocate
2021: Semifinalist
2019: Finalist
2018: Finalist
2016: Champion; Best Advocate
2015: Semifinalist
2014: Finalist, Best Advocate
2012: Third Place
2009: Champion; Best Advocate x2 (Preliminary and Final Rounds)
2007: Finalist

National Criminal Trial Advocacy Competition

2026: Semifinalists; Outstanding Advocate
2016: Semifinalists; Best Opening Statement; Best Direct Examination; Best Closing Argument
2013: Quarterfinalist
2002: Champion; Outstanding Advocate
2001: Finalist; Most Perfect Scores
2000: Champion; Best Advocate, Best Cross-Examination

National Ethics Trial Competition

2025: Best Direct Examination; Most Professional Team
2024: Finalist; Best Cross-Examination
2023: Semifinalist; Best Advocate
2016: Champion; Most Professional Team; Best Advocate
2015: Semifinalist
2014: Semifinalist
2013: Best Advocate
2012: Finalist; Best Advocate, Most Professional Team
2009: Semifinalist
2008: Semifinalist
2006: Semifinalist

Puerto Rico Trial Advocacy Competition

2025: Semifinalist; Best Advocate
2024: Champion; Best Direct Examination
2022: Best Closing Argument
2021: Semifinalist
2009: Semifinalist

Queens District Attorney's Office Mock Trial Competition

2026: Champion; Best Advocate
2025: Quarterfinalist; Best Direct Examination
2024: Champion; Best Advocate

Shark Beach Showdown

2024: Quarterfinalist; Best Direct Examination

Show Me Challenge National Voir Dire Tournament*

*Competition no longer exists

2019: Finalist
2018: Finalist
2017: Semifinalist
2015: Semifinalist
2014: Champion

South Texas Mock Trial Challenge

2025: Octofinalist
2024: Champion; Best Advocate
2023: Champion
2022: Semifinalist
2021: Semifinalist
2019: Finalist
2016: Finalist; Outstanding Advocate
2013: Finalist

Summit Cup

2024: Best Advocate
2023: Champion; Best Advocate

Syracuse National Trial Competition

2025: Finalist
2024: Champion; Best Opening Statement; Best Direct Examination; Best Advocate in the Final Round
2023: Champion; Best Advocate in the Final Round; Best Advocate and Runner-Up Best Advocate in the Preliminary Rounds
2022: Champion; Best Cross-Examination; Best Advocate in the Final Round

Texas Young Lawyers Association National Trial Competition (Regionals)

2026: Semifinalist (Team Green)
2025: Champion (Team Green) and Best Advocate
2024: Champion (Team Green); Semifinalist (Team White)
2023: Finalist & Best Advocate; Semifinalist
2021: Semifinalist, Best Advocate, Best Opening
2020: Champion; Finalist
2019: Champion
2018: Semifinalist
2017: Champion; Best Advocate Semifinal Round; Best Opening Statement; Best Direct Examination
2016: Semifinalist; Quarterfinalist
2015: Finalist, Best Cross-Examination
2013: Semifinalist
2012: Finalist
2011: Semifinalist
2010: Champion
2009: Quarterfinalist
2008: Finalist
2007: Champion
2006: Semifinalist
2005: Champion; Semifinalist
2004: Champion; Finalist
2003: Semifinalist (both teams)
2002: Finalist; Semifinalist
2001: Champion
2000: Champion (both teams)

Texas Young Lawyers Association National Trial Competition (Nationals)

2025: National Participant
2024: National Participant
2019: National Finalist
2010: National Champion
2005: Quarterfinalist
2004: Finalist; Best Advocate
2001: National Champion
2000: Quarterfinalist; Best Advocate

Top Gun Competition

2024: Semifinalist
2022: Semifinalist
2016: Semifinalist
2010: Semifinalist

Tournament of Champions

2021: Semifinalist
2017: Finalist
2015: Semifinalist
2013: Semifinalist
2010: Semifinalist
2004: Champion; Best Advocate
2002: Semifinalist

Trials & Tribulations

2026: Finalist; Best Advocate

William W. Daniel National Mock Trial Competition

2025: Semifinalist
2024: Semifinalist
2023: Finalist