The University of St. Thomas Mock Trial Team placed third overall at the 2010 Houston Regional Mock Trial Tournament, hosted by Houston Baptist University on Feb. 7, 2010. For the second year in a row, the team qualified for the Opening Round Championship and will compete in St. Louis in March.

UST faced 21 teams at the regional competition from universities which included University of Texas-Austin, UCLA, Texas A & M University, Baylor University, University of Houston, Rice University, Houston Baptist University, Tulane, UT-Pan American, Westwood, University of Arizona, Collin College, Southwestern, University of Texas-Dallas, and Southern Methodist University. UST’s record final record was 6-1-1, bested only by University of Texas-Austin and UCLA.

The members of the 2010 Fighting Celt team are Mary Green, Shawna Boothe, Katherine Witty, Travis Wooten, Noel Rodriguez, Christopher Dupree, Jacqueline Hinojosa, and Selina Contreras. The coaches are Kelly Heallen and Jason Cox, with help from Jeremy Heallen and Pat Cox.

UST Senior Shawna Boothe won an All-Regional Attorney Award for her roles as a prosecuting attorney and as a defense attorney. She was the only competitor to win recognition for dual attorney roles.

Last year, the UST team placed fifth at regionals and advanced to the Opening Round Championship in Memphis, Tennessee.

Charles Rice Young, associate professor of political science and the director of UST’s Prelaw Program, attributes the continuing success of the team to the dedicated efforts of the student participants and coaches.

“The students and coaches put in months of preparation starting last August and it has paid off. UST’s mock trial students are an inspiration and deserve congratulations,” Young said.

Young also said that success on the mock trial team has translated to success in law school for many of UST’s past mock trial members.

“Of our previous three teams, 12 of those students went on to law school, several of whom are going to graduate this year. Our UST graduates are taking the Houston legal community by storm,” he said.

Shown above from left to right: Pat Cox (coach), Jason Cox (coach), Christopher Dupree (student), Jacqueline Hinojosa (student), Selina Contreras (student), Kelly Heallen (coach), Noel Rodriguez (student), Shawna Boothe (w/ best lawyer award), Katherine Witty (student), Mary Green (team captain w/ trophy), Travis Wooten (student).