Northwood University Mock Trial capped an exceptional 2025-26 season with a strong showing at the American Mock Trial Association’s National Championship Tournament, earning a place among the top collegiate mock trial programs in the country.
Northwood was one of only 50 teams nationwide invited to compete at the National Championship Tournament, April 17-19, in Washington, D.C., following a standout performance at the Opening Round Championship Series (ORCS) in Geneva, Illinois.
“More than 800 collegiate teams compete nationwide during the mock trial season, with only 192 teams advancing to ORCS and an even smaller group moving on to the National Championship Tournament,” explained Dr. DeLois Leapheart, director of Northwood’s Mock Trial program. “By the time the first trial began at nationals, 818 teams had been eliminated — meaning only 5.76% of the teams that reviewed the case for this year’s competition earned the right to compete at the National Championship Tournament.”
Two of those teams came from Michigan: Northwood University and the University of Michigan.
“This was a remarkable season for Northwood Mock Trial, and our students should be incredibly proud of what they accomplished,” said Coach Dr. DeLois Leapheart. “To reach the National Championship Tournament requires months of preparation, discipline, teamwork, and resilience. Our students represented Northwood with professionalism and poise against some of the strongest collegiate mock trial programs in the nation.”
Northwood competed in the Law School Division at nationals, completing four trials against some of the strongest collegiate mock trial programs in the country. The team won all three ballots in its trial against the University of Illinois and remained competitive throughout the tournament, including closely contested rounds against the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Virginia and the University of California, Berkeley.
“Mock Trial is one of the most demanding experiential learning opportunities available to undergraduate students,” Leapheart said. “Our students must think critically, communicate persuasively, respond under pressure, and work together with integrity. Those are skills that will serve them well in law, business, leadership, and any career path they choose.”
Northwood’s national performance also helped elevate the program in the American Mock Trial Association’s newly released rankings for the 2026-27 academic year. Northwood moved up to No. 28 in the country, making it the highest-ranked collegiate mock trial program in Michigan.
Another highlight from the national tournament was Conrad Waldie earning his second consecutive All-American Witness Award. This honor placed Waldie, a student from Vassar, Michigan, among the top individual competitors at the National Championship Tournament.
“Conrad’s recognition is a tremendous honor. It reflects the talent, preparation, and dedication he and his teammates spent preparing for trial,” Leapheart said. “To earn All-American recognition once is outstanding. To do it in back-to-back years is truly special and could not be done without the help of his exceptional teammates.”
In addition to Conrad, the following students attended or competed at the National Championship Tournament: Maze Gusa of Ubly, Gabriel Laske of Hope, Julian Lee of Macomb, Barrett Tefft of Davison, Laina Tomei of Shelby Township, Aaron Harvey of Saginaw, Johnathan Schwegler of Grand Blanc, Denilson Hernandez of Pontiac, Winston Wilcox of Camden, Amanda Zeller of Eaton Rapids, Dereon Campbell of Bay City, Gabrielle Shelton of Bay City, and Skyler Hundley of Zeeland.
“This season showed what is possible when students commit fully to excellence,” Leapheart said. “I am grateful for our students, our assistant coaches, our alumni supporters, and everyone who helped Northwood Mock Trial reach the national stage. This program continues to demonstrate the power of experiential learning at Northwood University.”
For more information about Northwood University Mock Trial, visit northwood.edu/mocktrial.
