by Rich Stratton, Assistant Director of Public Relations
Cedarville University’s mock trial team made history at the Fayette District Courthouse in Lexington, Kentucky, securing its first-ever tournament team award at the tournament hosted by Eastern Kentucky University from January 25-26.
The team of Cedarville students competed against top-tier programs, including the University of Tennessee, Indiana University, the University of Dayton, and Xavier University. Cedarville’s A team finished the competition with a 6-2 record, scoring their first tournament win since the formation of the Mock Trial program last year.
As a result, the team's efforts earned them recognition at the awards ceremony as a top finishing team. The Cedarville University were also recognized as an honorable mention status for the Spirit of AMTA (American Mock Trial Association) award, a distinction given for fair play and civility voted on by opposing competition.
While no individual awards were won by Cedarville’s A team—a testament to the strong collective performance where every member excelled—Cedarville’s B team celebrated a standout achievement. Joshua Hartford, a sophomore prelaw major from Chesterfield, Michigan, won a witness award for his compelling portrayal of a defense psychologist.
“This team has never won or even had a winning record since we began this program last year,” said Greg Thompson, professor of criminal justice and a retired member of the Air Force JAG Corps. “Their dedication and mental acuity are remarkable. The Lord provided, and we give Him the glory for what He is doing through this team.”
The team’s success came despite significant challenges. A key player was sidelined with the flu, and three new competitors were recently integrated into the lineup in early January. These obstacles didn’t stop Cedarville from excelling.
“It’s incredible to see how far this team has come in two years,” said Thompson. “This tournament gave us opportunities to reflect on God’s faithfulness and share with others what happens when we trust Him for the outcomes.”
The team will compete Feb. 1-2 at the University of Dayton Law School for the regional tournament, the first step in the national tournament sequence. To advance, Cedarville must finish in the top six out of approximately 30 teams.
“Should be exciting,” said Thompson. “This is a team effort, and we’re grateful for the support from our faculty, students, coaches and families. Let’s keep the momentum going!”
Mock Trial Roster:
Team A: Rachel Kidder (junior psychology major, Dacono, Colorado), Alyssa Tryon (senior criminal justice major, West Seneca, New York), Katie Baker (senior social work major, Fredericktown, Ohio), Aaron Waters (junior political science major, Lewis Center, Ohio), Paige Johnson (sophomore international studies and political science double major, Davenport, Iowa), Selah Harbor (senior criminal justice major, Lewiston, Ohio), Grace Eddy (freshman history and international studies double major, Littleton, Colorado), Wesley Rodu (senior accounting major, Cedarville, Ohio) and Thaddian Burson (senior political science major, Cedarville, Ohio).
Team B: Kate Melvin (sophomore history major, Washington Court House, Ohio), Lily Ritter (senior prelaw major, Meade, Kansas), Joshua Hartford (sophomore prelaw major, Chesterfield, Michigan), Christopher Leslie (junior prelaw and history double major, Hillsboro, Ohio), Timothy Anderson (junior management major, Canton, Illinois), Lucy Chang (junior criminal justice major, Bradenton, Florida), Nick Allen (sophomore criminal justice major, Rochester, New York), Caleb Seavey (junior political science major, Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey) and Kathryn Mullins (sophomore history major, Bowling Green, Ohio).
Cedarville University, an Evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences, and professional fields. With 6,384 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by The Wall Street Journal as being among the nation’s top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics, and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.