Northwood University Mock Trial concluded the invitational portion of the 2025–26 season with a first-place team finish and multiple individual honors.
On Jan. 18, Northwood students earned first place at the invitational tournament hosted by Michigan State University at the Judge Charles A. Pratt Justice Center in Kalamazoo. Competing against top collegiate programs from across the country, Northwood finished with 7.5 ballot wins out of a possible 8 ballots during the tournament. Other teams finishing in the Top 5 included Loyola University, University of Illinois, Indiana University, and Washington University.
Two Northwood Mock Trial teams competed at the event. Northwood’s most experienced team secured first place by winning trials against the University of Illinois, Loyola University, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Chicago. Northwood’s second team split ballots in a trial against Michigan State University and a consolidated team of students from multiple universities, and gained valuable experience against Indiana University and Northwestern University.
In addition to the team title, several Northwood students earned individual recognition. Conrad Waldie received an Outstanding Witness Award on the defense side of the case. Maze Gusa of Ubly, Michigan, earned an Outstanding Attorney Award on the defense side, while Barrett Tefft of Davison, Michigan, was recognized with Outstanding Attorney Awards on both the prosecution and defense sides.
“This tournament marked an exciting capstone to the invitational season and demonstrated the growth, resilience, and competitive excellence of our students,” said Northwood Mock Trial Coach Dr. DeLois Leapheart. “Our teams continue to rise to the challenge against nationally respected programs, and their performance reflects months of preparation and hard work.”
Earlier this month, Northwood competed at an invitational sponsored by the University of California–Los Angeles. The Jan. 11 tournament required schools to field both an A team and a B team, testing the depth of each program. Northwood students returned from winter break a week early to prepare for this first tournament of the spring semester — a decision that paid great dividends.
Northwood’s A team earned victories against the University of California Santa Barbara, the University of California–Irvine, and the University of California–Davis, with a narrow loss to Northwestern University. Barrett Tefft again earned an Outstanding Attorney Award for his performance.
The B team opened the tournament by splitting ballots against the University of California Santa Barbara and gained additional experience against the University of California–Irvine, Northwestern University, and the University of California–Davis.
“It was especially rewarding to see how well our students adapted to case changes released during winter break,” Leapheart said. “Their ability to adjust quickly speaks volumes about their preparation and teamwork.”
Leapheart extended gratitude to assistant coaches Stephen Dunn, Riley Hayer, and Jacob Walters, who traveled with the teams and provided invaluable guidance throughout both tournament weekends.
Looking ahead, Northwood Mock Trial now turns its focus to elimination competition. The American Mock Trial Association regional tournaments begin in February, marking the start of postseason play.
