National Trial Team

Membership in the National Trial Team is earned by competing in the Salsbury Trial Advocacy Tournament, made possible thanks to a generous gift by Stuart Salsbury, JD ’71, and Suzanne Salsbury, JD '73.

In the first round, each student is provided with a trial packet and presents a closing argument to the members of the team. The closing argument is scored by current members of the team, and approximately half of the students who try out will move on to the quarterfinal round.

Those students called back for the quarterfinal round will write and deliver a cross examination using the same trial packet. The witness will be portrayed by a current Trial Team member. Once the semifinal round is complete, the new Trial Team members are chosen by the Director, with input from current members and coaches.

Within the group of students selected to join the team, the top four competitors by cumulative score will move on to the final round of the Salsbury Tournament and will conduct a full-length trial based on the same trial packet. Past and current members of the National Trial Team will sit as members of the jury and the trial will be presided over by a sitting trial judge. All students selected to join the team who are not selected as finalists will be considered semifinalists. 

If you have questions about the tryout process, please reach out to team captains Marisa Koontz, Trevor Patschorke, and Ashley Travis at trialteam@law.umaryland.edu.

Spring 2025

TYLA National Trial Competition (NTC): One team went undefeated to win their region and advance to Nationals. The advancing team was comprised of Alex Tamayo '25 and Ashley Travis '25, and was coached by Becca Wells '24 and Thomas Kiley '24, and the team will compete at NTC Nationals in April in Houston, TX. 

Our other NTC team went undefeated in the preliminary rounds and finished as Regional Semifinalists. That team was comprised of Giovanna Monti '25 and Abdullah Khan '26, and was coached by Lindsey Rennie '19 and Gus Glazov '24. 

AAJ Student Trial Advocacy Competition (STAC): One team went undefeated to win their region and advance to Nationals. The advancing team was comprised of Milly Sasu '25, Hannah Elster '25, Lauren Helbig '26, and Allison Paul '26. This team was coached by Lindsey McCulley '12 and Colin Miller '24, and they will compete at AAJ Nationals in April in Atlanta, GA. 

Our other AAJ team finished as Region Finalists. This team consisted of attorneys Marisa Koontz '25 and Trevor Patschorke '25, and witnesses Ellie Williams '25 and Faith Kim '25. The team was coached by Lindsay Hemminger '23, Kelly Robier, Pat Dillion '17, and Ashley Fellona '18. 

Nova Southeastern Shark Beach Showdown: Our team finished as semifinalists. This team was comprised of Maria Lukens '25, Ashley Travis '25, Ellie Williams '25, and Kaelyn Starrs '26. Ashley Travis also won the award for Best Direct Examination for her direct exam of Kaelyn Starrs. The team was coached by Tohan Okojie '23 and Salsbury Director Ben Garmoe '16. 

South Carolina Trials & Tribulations: Our team finished as quarterfinalists. Genaro Petruccelli '26 was also named an Outstanding Advocate. The team was comprised of Moonisha Huq '26, Peighton Stirt '26, Dana Wallace '26, Genaro Petruccelli '26, Ben Atkins '26, Greg Deyesu '26, and Henry Jones '26, and was coached by Ian Anthony '13, Lexi Smith '24, and Sydney Branch '24. 

Fall 2024

Fordham Judge Paul Joseph Kelly, Jr. Invitational: Our team went undefeated and won the championship at the 2024 Fordham Kelly Competition! The team was comprised of Abdullah Khan '26 and Alex Tamayo '25. In addition to the championship, Alex Tamayo was named Best Overall Advocate. The team was coached by travel coaches Lindsey McCulley '12 and Becca Wells '24, along with coaches Dylan Rogers Elliott '20 and Summer Akhtar Elliott '21. Fordham Kelly is a unique and challenging competition where two advocates prepare both sides of the case. 

Quinnipiac/ABA Criminal Justice Competition: Our Quinnipiac team finished as National Finalists at the 2024 Quinnipiac Competition! The team was made up of Hannah Elster '25, Maria Lukens '25, Giovanna Monti '25, and Peighton Stirt '25. In addition to finishing as finalists, Maryland was given the award for Best Suppression Motion (shared by Monti and Elster), Hannah Elster won Best Cross Examination, and Peighton Stirt won Best Opening Statement. The team was coached by travel coaches Lindsay Hemminger '23 and Tohan Okojie '23, along with coaches Justin Wallace '15, Stephanie Haddad '21, and Veronica Mina '21. 

UCLA/UC San Diego First Chair: our First Chair team advanced to Semifinals. The team was comprised of Ashley Travis '25 and Alex Tamayo '25. First Chair is a unique competition where two advocates each prepare one side of an entire case file. In addition to advancing to semifinals, both Alex Tamayo and Ashley Travis both won Outstanding Advocate awards. The First Chair team was coached by Salsbury Director Ben Garmoe '16. 

UC Berkeley National Flash Trial: Our team of Marisa Koontz '25 and Millicent Sasu '25 was named Most Professional Team at Flash Trial. The team was coached by Salsbury Director Ben Garmoe '16.

National Civil Trial Competition: Our team finished with a winning record at NCTC, and Ashley Travis won the award for Best Closing Argument. The NCTC team was comprised of Lauren Helbig '26, Faith Kim '25, Marisa Koontz '25, and Ashley Travis '25. The team was coached by travel coaches Ian Anthony '13, Lindsey Rennie '19, and Salsbury Director Ben Garmoe '16, along with coaches Maria Stamidis '17 and Kevin Kidwell '21. 

Spring 2024

Baylor Law's Top Gun: Advocate Becca Wells '24 and Second Chair Thomas Kiley '24 advanced to Semifinals. Top Gun is widely considered the most difficult mock trial tournament in the country. Only the top sixteen programs in the country are invited each year, and competitors receive the case a mere 24 hours before their first trial. Becca and Thomas were coached by Salsbury Director Ben Garmoe '16. 

AAJ Student Trial Advocacy Competition (STAC): One team won their region and advanced to Nationals. That team was comprised of Katherine Coyle '24, Aurie Serrette '24, Laura Milleker '24, and Ashley Travis '25. The advancing team was coached by Lindsey Rennie '19 and Ope Glover '15.

Our other AAJ team advanced to Region finals. The regional finalist team was comprised of Colin Miller '24, Millicent Sasu '25, Marisa Koontz '25, and Trevor Patschorke '25. This team was coached by Maria Stamidis '17, Lindsay Hemminger '23, and Michelle Lim '23. 

TYLA National Trial Competition (NTC): One team won their region and advanced to Nationals. The advancing team was comprised of Becca Wells '24 and Thomas Kiley '24. At Regionals, the team was coached by Fiona Puglese '20 and Dylan Elliott '20. Rebecca Wells was named an Outstanding Advocate at Regionals as well. At Nationals, the team was coached by Salsbury Director Ben Garmoe '16. 

Additionally, Sydney Branch '24 was named an Outstanding Advocate at South Carolina's Trials and Tribulations. 

Fall 2023

UC Berkeley National Flash Trial: Our team advanced to Semifinals. The team was comprised of Becca Wells '24 and Thomas Kiley '24, and was coached by Dylan Elliott '20 and Salsbury Director Ben Garmoe '16. Becca Wells was also named Best Overall Advocate at the competition. "Flash Trial" is unique because advocates try a new case each round and receive access to that case 45-60 minutes before the trial, testing their ability to quickly build a case and adjust to events in trial as they occur.

Atlanta William Daniel Competition: Our team advanced to Semifinals. This was a combined team with the National Trial Team and the Thurgood Marshall Trial Team. The team was comprised of NTT students Amirah Loury '24 and Joe Dowdell '24, and TMTT students Alaina Cohen '24 and Jadeite Javier '24. The team was coached by TMTT Director Derrick Millburn '13, Tamia Morris '23, and Salsbury Director Ben Garmoe '16. 

Fordham Judge Paul Joseph Kelly, Jr. Invitational: Our team advanced to Quarterfinals. The team was comprised of Becca Wells '24 and Giovanna Monti '25, and was coached by Salsbury Director Ben Garmoe '16. The Fordham Kelly Invitational is one of the nation's most difficult tournaments. Both advocates must present on both sides of the case, and all witnesses are provided by the competition organizers. 

Denver Summit Cup: Our team was named Most Professional Team. The team was comprised of Sydney Branch '24, Colin Miller '24, Katherine Coyle '24, and Trevor Patschorke '25, and was coached by Lindsey Rennie '19, Ian Anthony '13, and Salsbury Director Ben Garmoe '16. Summit Cup is an invitation-only tournament for teams that won a major tournament in the previous year, and Maryland was invited in 2023 by winning the 2022 Hofstra Medical-Legal Competition.

Additionally, Anne Moruzzi '24 was named an Outstanding Advocate at the Hofstra Medical-Legal Competition, and Gus Glazov '24 was named Most Valuable Advocate for the regular season of the Syracuse National Trial League.

Spring 2023

TYLA National Trial Competition (NTC): One team advanced to Regional Semifinals at the NTC Washington DC Regional. The advancing team was comprised of Becca Wells '24, Sydney Branch '24, and Anne Moruzzi '24, and was coached by Lindsey Rennie ‘19 and Dylan Elliott ‘20. In addition to earning team honors, Becca Wells earned the award for Best Overall Advocate at our NTC Regional.

AAJ Student Trial Advocacy Competition (STAC): One team advanced to Regional Semifinals at the AAJ Northeast Regional. The advancing team was comprised of Lindsay Hemminger '23, Natalie Gibson '23, and Thomas Kiley '24. The team was coached by Fiona Puglese ‘20. Our AAJ team went undefeated in the preliminary rounds and advanced to semifinals as the top overall seed.

Syracuse National Trial League: Our team advanced to the National Final Round at Nationals. After going undefeated in the regular season, our NTL team advanced to Nationals and eventually to the final round against St. Mary’s. NTL finished as National Runner-Up and had a 9-2 final record for the season. The team was comprised of Norman Greenwell '23, Cole Baker '23, Jessica Sweeney '23, Natalie Gibson '23, and Colin Miller '24. The NTL team was coached by Annie Kenville ‘17, Eshawn Rawlley ‘14, and Salsbury Director Ben Garmoe ‘16.

South Texas Challenge: Our team advanced to Octofinals at the South Texas Mock Trial Challenge, one of the nation’s largest and most competitive advocacy tournaments. The team was comprised of Aurie Serrette '24, Alex Makar '24, and Colin Miller '24, and was coached by Maria Stamidis ‘17 and Hannah Coffin ‘20.

Fall 2022

Hofstra-Medical Legal Competition: Our team won the championship at the 2022 Hofstra Medical-Legal Competition! The Hofstra-Medical Legal Competition is a unique tournament co-hosted by Hofstra University Law School and Medical School, and is the only tournament in the country that simulates live expert testimony by having medical students work with each team and testify as expert witnesses in trial. The team was comprised of Lindsay Hemminger '23, Michelle Lim '23, Becca Wells '24, and Thomas Kiley '24. The team was coached by Hannah Coffin ‘20. In addition to winning the championship, Michelle Lim earned the award for Best Overall Advocate and Thomas Kiley earned an award as an Outstanding Advocate.

Our National Trial League team went undefeated in seven weeks of regular season competition and advanced to Nationals as the top overall seed! The National Trial League is a unique competition hosted by Syracuse University College of Law. Each of the twelve teams in the league competes every two weeks on Zoom against another league team, and the fact pattern changes for every round of competition. Our NTL team went 7-0 in the regular season and advanced to Nationals in January of 2023 as the only undefeated team. The team was comprised of Norman Greenwell '23, Cole Baker '23, Jessica Sweeney' 23, Natalie Gibson '23, and Colin Miller '24. The NTL team was coached by Annie Kenville ‘17, Eshawn Rawlley ‘14, and Salsbury Director Ben Garmoe ‘16. In addition to advancing to Nationals, 3L Norman Greenwell was named Most Valuable Advocate for the regular season.

Quinnipiac/ABA Criminal Justice Competition: Our team advanced to Quarterfinals as the top overall seed. The team was comprised of Tohan Okojie '23, Sean Cooley '23, Gus Glazov '24, and Sydney Branch '24, and was coached by Fiona Puglese ‘20, Alex Carlson ‘13, and Lindsey Rennie ‘19. In addition to team honors, Gus Glazov was named Best Overall Advocate, and Tohan Okojie earned the award for Best Direct Examination. Quinnipiac is an invitation-only tournament hosted by Quinnipiac Law School and co-sponsored by the American Bar Association, and some of the nation’s best trial advocacy programs compete at this tournament each year.

Spring 2022

AAJ Student Trial Advocacy Competition (STAC): One team went undefeated to win their regional and advance to Nationals! The team was comprised of 3Ls Eunice Kabuga '22, Tonecia Brothers-Sutton '22, Meredith Johnston '23 and Lindsay Hemminger '23, and was coached by Alex Carlson ’13, Courtney Watkins ’18, and Eshawn Rawlley ’14. STAC is a nationwide competition with several regionals across the country where teams compete to earn a bid to Nationals.

American University Capital City Challenge: Our team advanced to Octofinals. The team was comprised of Alyssa Radovanovich '22, Awurama Agyei '22, Michelle Lim '23 and Cole Baker '23, and was coached by Hannah Coffin ‘20, Jhonell Campbell ‘19, and Magaly Bittner ‘14. The Capital City Challenge is an invitation-only tournament hosted by American University and featuring many excellent trial advocacy programs from across the country.

Fall 2021

Quinnipiac/ABA Criminal Justice Competition: Our team went undefeated and emerged as champions of the 2021 Quinnipiac tournament! The team was comprised of Vanessa Agbar '22, Meredith Johnston '23, Lindsay Hemminger '23, and Nicholas Spiller '23, and was coached by Alex Carlson ’13, Maria Stamidis ’17, and Jhonell Campbell ’19. Quinnipiac is an invitation-only tournament hosted by Quinnipiac Law School and co-sponsored by the American Bar Association, and some of the nation’s best trial advocacy programs compete at this tournament each year.

Additionally, Eunice Kabuga '22 was named an Outstanding Advocate at the Georgetown Federal White Collar Crime Competition.

Spring 2021

TYLA National Trial Competition (NTC): One team advanced to Regional Semifinals at NTC Virtual Regionals. The team was comprised of Summer Akhtar '21 and Sang Kannan '22, and was coached by Ian Anthony '13, Alex Carlson '13, and Maria Stamidis '17. 

AAJ Student Trial Advocacy Competition (STAC): One team advanced to Regional Semifinals at AAJ Virtual Regionals. The team was comprised of Kevin Kidwell '21, Tory Trocchia '22, and Rachael Savage '22, and was coached by Courtney Watkins '17, Lindsey Cook '12, Lindsey Rennie '19, and Daniel Moore '19.

Fall 2020

St. Mary's All Star Bracket Challenge: Our team won their region and advanced to Nationals. The winning team was comprised of Summer Akhtar '21, Daniel Mooney '21, Veronica Mina '21, Sang Kannan '22, and Cole Abell '22. The team was coached by Ian Anthony '13 and Alex Carlson '13. Summer Akhtar was also named an All-Region Advocate for Region 4! 

Buffalo-Niagara Mock Trial Competition: Our team finished as Semifinalists in Buffalo! The team was comprised of Kathryn Meader '21, Kevin Kidwell '21, Eunice Kabuga '22, and Rachael Savage. The team was coached by Lindsey Cook '12 and Lindsey Rennie '19. 

Class of 2025:

• Hannah Elster
• Faith Kim
• Marisa Koontz
• Maria Lukens
• Halla McDermon
• Giovanna Monti
• Trevor Patschorke
• Millicent Sasu
• Alexsandra Tamayo
• Ashley Travis
• Ellie Williams

Class of 2026:

• Abdullah Khan
• Allison Paul
• Ben Atkins
• Dana Wallace
• Genaro Petruccelli
• Greg Deyesu
• Henry Jones
• Kaelyn Starrs
• Lauren Helbig
• Moonisha Huq
• Peighton Stirt
• Stephanie Schuessler

LEADERSHIP:

Salsbury Director of Trial Advocacy

• Benjamin Garmoe '16

Trial Team Captains

• Marisa Koontz '25
• Trevor Patschorke '25
• Ashley Travis '25

Public Relations Chair

• Moonisha Huq '26

COACHES

Head Coaches

• Ian Anthony '13
• Lindsey Rennie '19

Assistant Coaches

• Loretta Bacon '16
• Magaly Bittner '14
• Alex Carlson '13
• Hannah Coffin '20
• Pat Dillon '17
• Dylan Elliott '20
• Ashley Fellona '18
• Lindsay Hemminger '23
• Annie Kenville '17
• Michelle Lim '23
• Lindsey McCulley '12
• Jade McDuffie McClary '16
• Daniel Moore '19
• Tohan Okojie '23
• Joshua Ortega
• Fiona Puglese '20
• Eshawn Rawlley '14
• Ben Salsbury '07
• Aarti Sidhu '18
• Maria Stamidis '17
• Courtney Watkins '18

2024: Elizabeth Alfonso, Sydney Branch, Katherine Coyle, Joe Dowdell, Gus Glazov, Thomas Kiley, Amirah Loury, Alex Makar, Colin Miller, Laura Milleker, Anne Moruzzi, Alexis Smith, Aurie Serrette, Rebecca Wells

2023: Cole Baker, Sean Cooley, Junior Dufort, Natalie Gibson, Norman Greenwell, Michael Gregory, Lindsay Hemminger, Meredith Johnston, Michelle Lim, Tohan Okojie, Jessica Sweeney, Aja Pollack, Nicholas Spiller

2022: Cole Abell, Vanessa Agbar, Awurama Agyei, Marie Bauer, Tonecia Brothers-Sutton, Eunice Kabuga, Sangeetha Kannan, Leah Levi, Alyssa Radovanovich, Rachel Savage, Victoria Trocchia, Benjamin Weisburg

2021: Summer Akhtar, Kathleen Ayuk, Pavel Glazunov, Stephanie Haddad, Maya Jackson, Kevin Kidwell, Kathryn Meader, Veronica Mina, Daniel Mooney

2020: Susan Ansari, Alexus Brandon, Hannah Coffin, Dylan Rogers Elliott, Alexis Gbemudu, Tamara F. Johnson, Chukwukpee Nzegwu, Fiona Puglese, Kailey M. Silverstein, Shi “Porter” Yang, William Young

2019: Enoch Bevel, Jhonell Campbell, Daniel Moore, Lindsey Rennie, William Rice, Zara Thomas, Timothy VanCisin, Ashly Whidby

2018: Tyler Brown, Haneen Daham, Brian Epstein, Taylor Faulkner, Donovan Hamm, Ashley Fellona, Taylor McAuliffe, Andrew Nagle, Kaitlin Paddy, Aarti Sidhu, Jackie Taylor, Stephanie Trader, Courtney Watkins

2017: Lindsay Defrancesco, Patrick Dillon, Hillary Irvin, Gleda Kuperman, Angela Lam, Annie McGuire, Tom Pacheco, Maria Romas, Ashton Zylstra

2016: Loretta Bacon, Benjamin Garmoe, Diana Griffin, Sean Harding, Daniel Kaprow, Emmit Kellar, Erick Kim, Laura Merkey, Jade McDuffie, James Sheehan, Morgan Thomas

2015: Julia Bates, Michael Brown, Opeyemi Coker, Stephanie Klock, Connie Lee, Richard Medoff, Doug Sampson, Trevonne Walford, Justin Wallace

2014: Magaly Bittner, Laura Dunn, Wandaly Fernandez, Tom Nucum, Martin Nestares, Daniel Phipps, Eshawn Rawlley, Stacy Siegel

2013: Ian Anthony, Robert Alexander Carlson, Sarah David, Letam Duson, Daniel Flanagan, Jasmine Foreman, Glenn Gordon, Wayne Heavener, Marshall Jackson, James Dave O’Donnell, Ashley Sharif, Matthew Wood

2012: Charles Austin, Kara Boyle, Jescie Bohbot, Lindsey Cook, Anwar Graves, Lindsey McCulley, Daniel Mendelson, Funmi Ojetayo, Amanda Radke, Jennifer Ruiz, Derek Simmonsen

2011: Jamar Brown, Benjamin Bruins, Sally McMillan Guy, Mattthew Miller, Keisha Williams, Ngai Zhang

2010: Scott Allen, Greg Arbogast, Dana Backlund, Cathrin Banks, Christine Bowman, Michele N. Bradley, Mark Edelson, John Everett, Chris Madaio, Chris Monti, Ryan Severson, Keith Shebairo, Joseph T. Stovall, II

2009: Matt Brungo, Brandon Draper, Erin Frazee, Lauren Geisser, Sandra Goldberg, Lauren Grossman, Miguel Palmeiro

2008: Melissa Bilchik, Rebecca Caldwell, Ron Marryott, Ben Peoples, Tiffani Sterrette, Marcus Wang, Nolan Weltchek

2007: Jessica Butkera, Jason Downs, Gaines Johnston, Sig Libowitz, Ann Marie Park, Scott Richman, Ben Salsbury, Rachel Simmons, Alicia Wilson

2006: Abigail Bortnick, Julia Carolan, David Chamberlin, Tiffany Harvey, Veronica Jennings, Moyah Kettle, Seth Kleiner, Andres Lopez

2005: Amanda Cofflin, Justin Cuniff, Mary Garner, Brendan Hurson, Chris Lee, Adrianne Lord, Emily Malarkey, Peter Nothstein, Ryan Perlin, Jason Steinhardt

2004: A.J. Bellido de Luna, Tina Hixon, Governor Jackson III, Andrea Kirby, Kristopher Mallahan, Elizabeth Mandy, Alyson Miller, Prathyusha Reddy, Paul Solomon

2003: Christine Bautista, David Booth, Melissa de Beer, Katherine Eller, Amy Eroh, Mary Holohan, Jay Ortis, Joseph Ward

2002: Taraneh Azani, Andrew Brought, Marnell Cooper, Serena Mosley-Day, Todd Reinecker, Kelly Trumpbour

2001: Johan Flynn, Lisa Hesse, Michael Lofts, Christopher Smith, Christopher Steer, Wendy Webb

2000: Amy Cavero, Dawn Lanzalotti, Quang Nguyen, Lisa Voso

1999: Michael Hecht, Cathy Hinger, Peter Johnson, Ramsay Whitworth

The following alumni have made a generous multi-year commitment to support the National Trial Team:

Loretta M. Bacon '16
Magaly D. Bittner '14
Michael B. Brown ’15 and Susan R. Schipper '15
Sarah David '13 and Glenn A. Gordon '13
Jason G. Downs '07
Letam P. Duson '13
Mark Edelson '10
John T. Everett '10
Anwar L. Graves '12
Joe ’93 and Jenny '92 Hovermill
Daniel E. Kaprow '16
Lindsey N. McCulley '12
Daniel Moore '19
Andrew B. Nagel '18
Ben ’07 and Becca Salsbury '08
Timothy VanCisin '19
Justin Wallace '15
Alicia L. Wilson '07