Eight judges, four three-hour rounds, two opposing arguments and one 120-page case later, the St. Thomas Mock Trial team didn’t advance to the final national tournament, but had some success along the way.

The team, also known as the “Tommie Mockers,” finished eighth in this year’s regional tournament in Kansas City, Mo., just one spot behind nationally advancing.

Fortunately for the Tommie Mockers, a dropout made room for the team to head to Waukegan, Ill. for the first round of nationals. Though they didn’t continue on (six of the twenty-four teams advance), the team was able to experience life as courtroom lawyers.

Senior captain Brigid Galvin said the team enjoyed competing against neighboring schools.

“We didn’t hit any of the big names that were there, but we had a lot of fun competing against our neighbors down the street: St. Kate’s,” Galvin said. “We’ve competed against them before, and it’s always fun.”

Galvin said the team didn’t come away without prizes. It had a 3-5 record on the weekend, and senior Danny McCourtney took home the award for “Outstanding Attorney.”

McCourtney is in his rookie year with the Tommie Mockers, and said he had no experience prior to joining. He said the workload was more than what he was prepared for.

“The St. Thomas Mock Trial team has practices three nights a week, two hours a night, which was a way larger commitment than I had originally anticipated,” McCourtney said.

McCourtney’s hard work paid off. He said he was shocked to win the award.

“We were sitting at the banquet table just talking and having a good time … and the awards start … and I’m just like, ‘Alright, well it’s been a lot of fun. This is my first year,’” McCourtney said. “They called my name, and I was just in utter shock and surprise.”

Coach John Monnens said he couldn’t be more proud of McCourtney.

“This was his first, and unfortunately for the team, his last year. When Danny joined the team, he had a natural presence and demeanor in a courtroom setting,” Monnens said. “With only about six months of practice, Danny enhanced his natural talents by working hard and learning how to understand, analyze and argue the law.”

But it just wasn’t McCourtney that helped the Tommie Mockers shine. Monnens said the whole team did exceptionally well at the regional tournament.

“Over the past few years, the team has continually done better and better,” Monnens said. “Considering the current experience level of our team and the strong competition we had at the tournament, I thought the team did great.”

Monnens said the Tommie Mockers have a good sense of teamwork.

“Everyone on the team grows to be very close to one another,” Monnens said. “A team that wants to be competitive on a national level has to be able to work together, help each other, and most importantly support one another.”

Galvin said the team’s practicing efforts helped them to do well at regionals and mentioned that new mocker nerves are erased once the suit and tie are on.

“In the beginning of the year when the new kids are nervous about competing, I always tell them that when they put on their suit, and trial starts, it’ll be like a switch is flipped,” Galvin said. “You do your thing, and it all works out.”

Alison Bengtson can be reached at beng4632@stthomas.edu.