OU Law Competitions Program Finishes Year Ranked No. 19 Nationally
The University of Oklahoma College of Law’s Competitions Program capped off a remarkable year with a No. 19 national ranking from the Blakely Advocacy Institute, reflecting a season defined by record participation, national recognition, and outstanding advocacy performances across the country.
From moot court and trial advocacy to negotiation and client counseling, OU Law students competed at the highest levels while earning individual honors, championship finishes, and national recognition throughout the year. The program also celebrated record participation in several intraschool competitions, demonstrating the growing strength and depth of advocacy at OU Law.
The year included several standout accomplishments:
- No. 19 national ranking by the Blakely Advocacy Institute
- Record participation in multiple intraschool competitions
- Regional championship and national quarterfinal finish at the National Moot Court Competition
- Multiple teams advancing to semifinal, quarterfinal, octofinal, and elimination rounds in national competitions
- Nationally recognized briefs and oral advocacy performances across numerous competitions
Major Team Highlights
National Moot Court Competition
The team of Nic Gillis, Lynsey Mendenhall, and Ellie Dugan advanced to the final round of the regional competition after defeating the multi-year reigning regional champions. The team also earned Best Brief honors, while Mendenhall was recognized as Best Speaker in the Final Round. At the national competition, the team advanced to the Quarterfinal Round.
A second OU Law team, Maddy Childers, Jayden Loveless, and Evyn Lehr, also advanced to the Semifinal Round of regionals.
Energy & Mineral Law Foundation Moot Court Competition
The team of Emma Vance, Adelaide Villasana, and Claire Lindsey finished as runner-up, while Vance was recognized as Best Speaker in the competition.
Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition
OU Law fielded two teams:
Hannah Goff, Harrison Fite, and Will Newsom
Vaidehi Dahya, Megan Filler, and David Dulske
The Goff/Fite/Newsom team earned Best Regional Oralist, while the Dahya/Filler/Dulske team finished third overall in the competition.
Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition
The team of Taya Maxson, Kayelin Fant, and Trentin Dupper advanced to the Octofinal Round and earned Best Brief in the Competition.
Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition
The team of Alyvea Sloan, Trevor Crabtree, Ashton Cook, Katie Reese, and Riley Orr advanced to the Top 32 Teams, finishing 21st overall.
ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition
OU Law sent two teams to the regional competition:
Cassidy Beck, Jeffrey Michaelis, and Savannah Steele
Dylan Green, Patrick Lee, and Madison Harwell
The Beck/Michaelis/Steele team advanced to the Semifinal Round, and their brief was recognized as the Fourth Best Brief in the competition. Beck was also recognized as tied for 10th Best Speaker, while Lee earned recognition as the 9th Best Speaker.
HNBA Moot Court Competition
The team of Fatima Jaime and Jonathan Mejia Olalde advanced to the Quarterfinal Round and earned recognition for the Third Place Brief in the competition.
Intraschool Competition Results
Whitten Burrage Negotiation Competition
Record participation with 68 teams
First Place: Abby Heidemann & Caroline Hall
Second Place: Olivia Barth & Alexis O’Brien
Third Place: Ben Stanford & Ethan Howard / Ashton Cook & Bryce Cormack
Daugherty Moot Court Competition
Record participation with 22 teams
Champions: Savannah Steel & Emily Carr
Finalists: Mahak Merchant & Bryce Cormack
Best Speaker (Prelims): Patrick Lee
1L Moot Court Competition
First Place: Abby Heidemann & Caroline Hall
Second Place: Conner Kanaly & Connor Howard
Third Place: Justin Strickland & Gavin Graves / Lily Grace Battles & Haley Molina
Best Speaker: Madison Stephens
Runner-Up Speaker: Matthew Weisser
National Competition Results
Other Quarterfinal, Semifinal, and Elimination Round Performances and Brief Awards
OU Law students advanced deep into competition brackets throughout the year, including:
National Health Law Moot Court Competition — Ashlee Nutt, Madison Crowe, and Jess Armitage finished 4th place
ALA Moot Court Competition — Lynn Hernandez, Justin Stromski, and Taylor Laughlin reached the Quarterfinal Round
National Native American Law Student Association Moot Court Competition — Will Speed and Alexis O’Brien advanced to the Semifinal Round
Wagner Moot Court Competition — Caitlin Cannon and Aspen Olson advanced to the Quarterfinal Round
National Trial Competition — Jacqueline Castillo, James Griffith, and Lainey Morrow advanced to the Quarterfinal Round
South Texas Mock Trial Challenge — Emma Sawko, Tre Halstied, Andrew Jonutz, and Ian McEntire advanced to the Octofinal Round
ABA Client Counseling Competition — Lindsay Kirkland and Kaitlin Mack advanced to the elimination rounds and finished among the top six teams at regionals
Hicks Thomas National Moot Court Invitational — Mahak Merchant, Drew Cromer, Abby Frakes received the third place brief.
Student Awards & Honors
Alley Writing Award
- Nic Gillis
- Lynsey Mendenhall
- Ellie Dugan
Leadership in Advocacy Award
Mallory Duncan
Swank Professionalism Award
Hannah Goff
Order of the Barristers
- Cassidy Beck
- Maddy Childers
- Bryce Cormack
- Harrison Fite
- Nic Gillis
- Fatima Jaime
- Mahak Merchant
- Jeffrey Michaelis
- Alexis O’Brien
- Baylee Ogle
- Justin Stromski
Order of Solicitors
- Trevor Crabtree
- Drew Cromer
- David Dulske
- Tre Halstied
- Lynn Hernandez
- Taylor Laughlin
- Claire Lindsey
- August Nennmann
- Aspen Olson
- Seth Rodriguez
Interscholastic Competition Participants:
OU Law students competing this year included:
Abby Arp, Jess Armitage, Collin Armstrong, Simon Avey, Madison Bailey, Olivia Barth, Cassidy Beck, Jennifer Belote, Camree Bennet-Cox, Daphne Bigelow, Emily Burns, Caitlin Cannon, Emily Carr, Jacqueline Castillo, Maddy Childers, Ashton Cook, Bryce Cormack, Madison Crowe, Trevor Crabtree, Drew Cromer, Sarah Czarnecki, Vaidehi Dahya, Emily Davis, Maximus Devore, Ellie Dugan, Trentin Dupper, Mallory Duncan, David Dulske, Kayelin Fant, Harrison Fite, Megan Filler, Abby Frakes, Shelby Frost, Vanessa Free, Nic Gillis, Hannah Goff, Dylan Green, James Griffith, Madison Harwell, Tre Halstied, Lynn Hernandez, Whitney Humphrey, Fatima Jaime, Andrew Jonutz, Kaitlin Mack, Lindsay Kirkland, Lucila Kotroba, Patrick Lee, Evyn Lehr, Claire Lindsey, Brian Limekiller, Jayden Loveless, August Nennmann, Jonathan Mejia Olalde, Jeffrey Michaelis, Lynsey Mendenhall, Mahak Merchant, Ian McEntire, Alex McClure, Lainey Morrow, Riley Orr, Alexis O’Brien, Baylee Ogle, Aspen Olson, Ashlee Nutt, Iletze Porras, Jack Quisenberry, Katie Reese, Seth Rodriguez, Taylor Ruddle, Nicole Ruopp, Emma Sawko, Alyvea Sloan, Will Speed, Savannah Steele, Connor Stenftenagel, Justin Stromski, Mattie Thurman, Emma Vance, Adelaide Villasana, Spencer Wright.
Looking Ahead
With a national top-20 ranking, record participation, and continued success across advocacy disciplines, OU Law’s Competitions Program continues to establish itself as one of the nation’s premier advocacy programs.