Sherman, Texas – Austin College’s Mock Trial team, led by Advocacy Program Coach Ed Richardson, competed in the Opening Round Championship Series (ORCS) tournament hosted by Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, on March 14 – 16, 2025. 

The team completed the ORCS tournament with a record of 4-3-1. They opened against the #5 team in the nation, the University of Chicago, and finished strong against the University of Oregon. While this tournament brings the season to a close, it is the most successful season in program history, topping the previous high in ballots at ORCS by 2.5. 

Mock Trial team members Niki Hamraei ’25 and Jeff Truitt ’25 won awards for Top Witness and Top Attorney, respectively.

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.