Carthage Mock Trial takes third place in fourth annual Dairyland Challenge

Carthage Mock Trial competed at home the weekend of Oct. 12-13. The team hosted the fourth annual Carthage Dairyland Challenge at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center. Ten teams from six schools from Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa participated.

Adrian Maciejewski ’26 (best witness award).Carthage Red took home a trophy for its third place finish. Marcus Stubbs ’26 won a best plaintiff attorney award finishing with a perfect score of 20. Andrew Marron ’25, Adrian Maciejewski ’26, and Marcus Lemons ’27 won awards for best witness. Andrew and Marcus won as outstanding plaintiff witnesses and Adrian as an outstanding defense witness.

Carthage Red also won the Spirit of AMTA trophy, which is awarded to the team that best exemplifies the ideals of honesty, civility, and fair play.

As members of the Mock Trial Team, students act as attorneys and witnesses to present this year’s case of Shannon Shahid v. Taylor Hopson. On April 25, 2024, infamous Midlands millionaire Avery Bancroft died while aboard the Mid-Riverina Express. Bancroft had two children: Taylor Hopson and Shannon Shahid. According to Bancroft’s will, Hopson — who was also aboard the train when Bancroft died — would inherit most of Bancroft’s estate. Shahid has filed suit pursuant to the Slayer Statute, alleging Hopson caused Bancroft’s death and therefore cannot inherit any of Bancroft’s estate.

Marcus Stubbs ’26 (best plaintiff attorney award), Marcus Lemons ’27 and Andrew Marron ’25 (best witness awards).The case is tried at tournaments throughout the year before actual judges and attorneys. Scores are based on performance, knowing the facts of the case, and understanding the law. The Federal Rules of Evidence are utilized. The teams next compete Nov. 1-3 at Illinois State University.  

Eight new students joined 10 returning members to form the largest team in Carthage’s history.

This year’s team members are:

 ** Denotes Team Captains

The team is coached by Michael Phegley (professor of marketing and management) and attorney Margaret Zienkiewicz (adjunct faculty of marketing and management). Attorney Matt Richer ’14 and Liv Higgins ’22 serve as assistant coaches. Also assisting the team this season are Jon Allen ’22, Alicia Lederhaus ’23 and Mariah Bader ’24. Professor Art Cyr and the A. W. Clausen Center for World Business also provide support.

Sponsoring Department, Office, or Organization:

Carthage Mock Trial

For more information, contact:

Michael Phegley, JD Director, Mock Trial Program Associate Professor of Law, Management and Marketing