Cornell mock trial team makes national tournament

One of Cornell College's Mock Trial squads has earned a bid to the National Championship Round of the American Mock Trial Association's tournament.

The championship round will take place at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn., April 13-15.

The squad earned one of six spots in the tournament awarded at the Opening Round Championship Series in St. Louis, March 16-18. Junior James Hoeffgen earned one of 10 outstanding attorney awards and first-year Leonard Schlanger earned one of 14 outstanding witness awards.

So far, 48 bids have been awarded for the national tournament. Cornell is the second-smallest school so far to earn a bid and the only school so far from Iowa.

This is the second time Cornell College has sent a Mock Trial team to the national championship round. In 2010, Cornell finished sixth in the nation.