For the second year in a row, Cumberland School of Law's National Trial Teams have swept Region 8 of the National Trial Competition (NTC). Each team won its final round on Friday, Feb. 19, earning a place in the national competition in April. 

 

This is the tenth time in the past 13 years that a Cumberland team has won the NTC Regional Championship and the fifth time Cumberland has swept the regionals, for a total of 15 teams advancing to the national competition in 13 years. 

 

“Cumberland is blessed to have extremely talented, hard-working students who are dedicated to becoming practice-ready professionals and the best advocates they can be for their future clients," said head coach Judge Jim Roberts '94. "This year was especially difficult as the entire competition was conducted virtually. Yet, our students met this unique challenge head on and mastered this new medium."

 

The team of second-year students Antionette Pruitt, Jake Norwood and Mason Osborn defeated teams from the University of Mississippi School of Law, the University of Memphis Humphrey School of Law and Northern Kentucky University Chase School of Law in the preliminary rounds. They trumped the University of Mississippi School of Law in the semifinal round, then clinced the regional title by defeating Faulkner University Jones School of Law in the final round. 

 

The team of third-year student Trent Testa, and second-year students Ghada Abouhaidar and Kate Belyayeva defeated teams from the University of Tennessee College of Law and Mississippi College School of Law in the preliminary round, the University of Mississippi School of Law in the semifinal round, and won the regional title by defeating Northern Kentucky University Chase School of Law in the final round. 

 

Sara Williams '06 and Craig Shirley '19 also served as coaches for these teams.

 

"I am so proud of this group and very thankful for their contributions to the legacy of Cumberland's trial advocacy program,” Roberts said.