Missouri State University’s Mock Trial season is off to a great start.
That’s according to Dr. Jennifer LaPrade, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice and head coach of the Mock Trial team.
“We have a talented, bright, hard-working group of students on the team who are growing by leaps and bounds every week,” she said. “We are having a lot of fun this season.”
Already notching up the wins
During the recent Bear Brawl Classic, held on the MSU campus Nov. 1-3, the Mock Trial team not only played tournament hosts, they also got to hone their competitive skills.
They also notched up a few wins.
Junior criminology and criminal justice major Zackary Collison won top honors for outstanding witness. He received a perfect 20/20 for his role as a defense witness.
Meanwhile, Josh Roberts, also a junior criminology and criminal justice major, won an outstanding witness honor. Delilah Boggs, a junior political science and philosophy major, won an outstanding attorney honor.
Success at UMKC

At the UMKC tournament held Nov. 22-24, Mock Trial members added more wins to their already successful start.
In the overall competition, one of MSU’s two Mock Trial teams placed third out of a total of 26 teams.
In addition, two team members won individual awards at the UMKC event. Sophomore criminology and criminal justice major Masey Washington won an Outstanding Attorney award, and junior math/math education double major Layna Mangiapanello won an Outstanding Witness award.
“It is incredible to witness what Mock Trial has become at Missouri State in such a short time,” said Dr. Brett Garland, head of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. “Prior to Dr. LaPrade’s arrival in 2020, there was nothing like it on campus. Going into its fifth year, our Mock Trial team is now regionally and nationally recognized as an up-and-comer, competing neck-and-neck with some of the best in the country.”
Away in the Midlands…a fictional trial
This year’s American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) competitions are built around a civil jury trial in the fictional jurisdiction of Midlands. Teams present their arguments in the case of Shannon Shahid v. Taylor Hopson.
“A lot of the case is problem solving and putting together pieces,” said Mangiapanello. “There is no definitive answer to what happened in the case, it is all about presenting what you can get the evidence to show.”
Mangiapanello described her Mock Trial role this year as “all things expert.”
“I direct the defense expert witness, cross any plaintiff expert witnesses, and play the plaintiff expert witness,” she said. “I always think that the experts are some of the most fun because many of them have a lot of ‘bad’ facts, but it is all about how they are presented.”
Developing strategy a team effort
At the Bear Brawl Classic, Mangiapanello was eager to try out her team’s new defense strategy, which the team developed on the ride home from a tournament.
“We started working on an almost crazy defense theory,” she explained. “It started a little as a joke, but then as we kept talking it felt like there might be something there.”
Junior criminology and business management double major Kathryn Wagner said she has been ready to “jump in and compete.”
“I was in a few roles that I had only practiced, and I was ready to put them to the test in a competition,” she said. “Overall, I have loved getting to see our team grow. The difference in public speaking skills, confidence and skill has just multiplied since the beginning of the year.”
Team captain Collison, who is in his second year with Mock Trial, has won eight outstanding witness awards. He uses his experience to help his teammates develop strategy.
“I’ve been able to share what I know with new team members and provide them with tactics to help them grow in their skills,” he said. “I am able to share different strategies and tactics that I’ve developed with new witnesses.
Collison added that seeing his fellow teammates implement his strategies has been “extremely rewarding.”
Veterans shine while rookies step up
In addition to Collison, veterans Mangiapanello and Wagner are team captains this year. They are both in their third years with Mock Trial.
Other Mock Trial veterans include Josh Roberts, Hannah Killion, Delilah Boggs, Alyssa Roney, Kenta Otani and Ameliya Gerlt, all of whom are in their second or third years with the team.
The newest members or “rookies” of the team are Satori Crunkleton, Masey Washington, Carly Smith, Stephanie Diaz, Dakota Brockel, Nate Marshall, Nick Normandeau and Ben Huinda.
Washington enjoys confidence and success
“Rookie” Masey Washington has been playing the role of closing attorney for the plaintiff side this season. She already sees the benefits of being in Mock Trial, including her recent UMKC win.
“Since joining only a few months ago, I have noticed I’m standing up more for myself in my personal and educational life,” Washington said. “I am better at speaking with people and arguing for what I believe and need.”
Additionally, Mock Trial has cemented Washington’s decision to pursue a law career.
“Saying my expectations have been met would be an understatement, as I have seen myself change and fall more in love with my future field of occupation than I could have ever expected,” Washington said.

Leading by example
Wagner said that being a veteran in Mock Trial means leading by example.
“I think that a big part of being a returning member of the team is to embrace your performance, which includes the good, the bad and the ugly,” Wagner said. “Leading by example means accepting that we all make mistakes, and it’s how you move on from these mistakes that define your success.”
Junior journalism major Alyssa Roney has been playing multiple character witnesses this season. She noted that the team has placed a special emphasis on mentorship this year.
“One of the most rewarding parts of serving in a mentor capacity within Mock Trial is being able to see the rapid growth of our new competitors in the span of a few short months,” she said. “You can really only learn by doing in Mock Trial.”
“It has been awesome to see them push themselves, rather than buckle, under pressure,” she added.
Mangiapanello also praised the rookie members.
“It is so overwhelming to do a tournament,” she said. “Many of them did their first tournament ever and jumped in and ran four trials over the course of a weekend.”
“Mock Trial just clicks when you start a tournament and actually do it for the first time,” she added. “It was exciting to see it click for our rookies. I cannot wait to see what the season brings!”
Photo credits: Samantha Trowbridge.
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