The Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Mock Trial Team 2 achieved its highest national finish to date, returning as national runners-up from the Phi Alpha Delta Law Pre-Law Mock Trial Competition in Washington, D.C. The team is part of FAU’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice within the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice.
“We are proud of our Mock Trial Team’s strong finish on the national stage,” said FAU President Adam Hasner. “Our students’ exceptional performance reflects the high academic standards and meaningful learning opportunities that continue to elevate the success of Florida Atlantic.”
The four-person team consisted of captain Adrianna Iacono, Sydney Goldstein-Rivera, Lina Sofia Vasquez, and Jagger Weitzen. They competed against several universities, defeating Stony Brook, top-ranked Florida 1, and Texas Tech 2 before narrowly losing in the finals to another ranked team, Florida 2. The final result was decided by a margin of four points.
“Placing as runner-up in this prestigious national arena reflects not only our students’ impressive advocacy skills, but also the collaborative spirit and excellence that define our academic community,” said Naelys Luna, Ph.D., dean of the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice. “As national runners-up, our mock trial team has helped to further elevate the reputation of our college and our university on the national stage, and these students represent the pathways of opportunity an education from Florida Atlantic can open.”
Iacono serves as both team captain and president of the FAU Mock Trial club. She is a graduate student from Long Island pursuing a master’s degree in criminology and criminal justice. Goldstein-Rivera is vice president of the club and a communications major from Lake Worth; she joined with Vasquez and Weitzen one-and-a-half years ago. Vasquez is a graduate student from Colombia studying social work, while Weitzen is a junior dual-enrolled at FAU High School majoring in criminal justice.
Coaching responsibilities are handled by Frank de la Torre and Joel Feldman, who have nearly 90 years combined experience as practicing attorneys. De la Torre co-founded the Mock Trial Club at FAU in 1994 and currently serves as an instructor in criminology as well as interim associate dean for the college. Feldman specializes in civil law as an adjunct professor.
“Securing first-runner-up in the D.C. national championship is a testament to the dedication and resilience of our team,” said de la Torre. “Four years ago, we started as a small club with big dreams, and now we’ve proven that grit and an unrelenting belief in our teammates can overcome even the toughest competition. I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come – not just as competitors, but as colleagues.”
