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January 31, 2025

SVSU duo qualifies for final round of national moot court tournament

Six students competed at preliminary rounds

three images, each with two students

Six students from SVSU’s moot court program, ranked No. 9 in the nation, traveled to the University of Houston Law Center for the American Moot Court Association’s preliminary rounds of the national tournament (PRONT) January 10-11. By the end of the tournament, one SVSU team had advanced to the final round of the national tournament, which will be held at Texas Tech University School of Law on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 14 and 15.

The SVSU students competed in the PRONT as two-person teams. They were: 
•    Nikolas Baker, a political science major from Standish, and Diva Patel, a biology and political science major from Kawkawlin
•    Ethan Rose, a political science major from Ypsilanti, and Payton Stemmerich, a Spanish major from Clinton Township
•    Jason Hoang and Cole Starke, both political science majors from Saginaw

Kevin Lorentz II, SVSU assistant professor of political science and director of SVSU’s moot court program, reported that all three teams “performed well against some of the top performing teams from across the nation.”

The teams of Baker/Patel and Rose/Stemmerich advanced to the elimination rounds on the second day of competition. These rounds determined which teams would advance to the final round of the national tournament (FRONT) in February.

During the elimination rounds, Baker and Patel finished second overall, securing a bid to the FRONT. In addition, Baker was among the top 20 orators, finishing at No. 12. Rose and Stemmerich finished in the top 16, just missing the cutoff for advancing to the FRONT. 

Amy Hendrickson, SVSU associate professor of law and a moot court coach, traveled to Texas with the students. In the week preceding the competition, she and team member Noah Johnson, a political science major from Lake Orion, prepared SVSU’s participants for the competition. 
“We are extremely proud of these three teams for making some great arguments throughout the competition,” Lorentz said. “We look forward to seeing how Baker and Patel do in the final round of the national tournament. 

In addition to the oral arguments at the FRONT, results of the brief writing competition will be announced at the competition. All SVSU moot court teams entered the appellate brief writing competition. In the 2023-2024 competition season, SVSU placed second in the nation in brief writing.

SVSU's Moot Court team is currently ranked ninth in the country for undergraduate moot court, including second in brief writing. The team is coached by Kevin G. Lorentz II, SVSU assistant professor of political science, and Amy Hendrickson, associate professor of law and assistant dean of the Carmona College of Business. This season, Abi Walk, a recent graduate and former moot court competitor, assisted in preparing teams for their regional competitions. 

A full listing of all members of the SVSU's Moot Court team for the 2024-2025 season follows:
•    Curtis Andrews, a political science major from Kentwood
•    Jeremiah Arnold, a criminal justice major from Freeland
•    Owen Bacigalupo, a sociology major from Bay City
•    Nikolas Baker, a political science major from Standish
•    Ethan Bebow, a political science major from Saginaw
•    Hadley Bukantis, a political science major from Ovid
•    Eric Dahley, a political science major from Freeland
•    Eric Durette, a political science major from China Township
•    Gavin Girard, a accounting major from Saginaw
•    Memphis Hartman, a political science major from Grand Rapids
•    Jason Hoang, a political science major from Saginaw
•    Noah Johnson, a political science major from Lake Orion
•    Rylee Livesay, a history major from Midland
•    Piper Luke, a political science major from Howell
•    Diva Patel, a biology and political science major from Kawkawlin
•    Ethan Rose, a political science major from Ypsilanti
•    Cole Starke, a political science major from Saginaw
•    Payton Stemmerich, a Spanish major from Clinton Township
•    Seth Taylor, a history major from Auburn
•    Dahlia Terry, a political science major from Wayland
•    Ryan VanTonne, a political science major from Bay City
•    Ryan Wiley, a political science major from Marine City

Success in moot court requires a tremendous investment of time spent practicing and preparing for oral arguments and researching and writing legal briefs.  SVSU’s moot court program has qualified for the American Moot Court Association national tournament nearly every year it has competed since the program’s inception in 2010. For more information about the American Moot Court Association, visit amcamootcourt.org