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Competing in only the program’s second-ever invitational, the team went 5–3 across four rounds—two on prosecution and two on defense—and brought home two Best Witness Awards.

Liam Thumser ’27 earned 17 points as a prosecution witness, the second-highest possible score, while DeJanae Harges ’26 earned 15 points, also placing her among the tournament’s top performers. Their recognition came from consistently earning top-four rankings from judges across all ballots.

This success builds on the team’s strong showing at the Dairyland Invitational at Carthage College two weeks earlier, where Lake Forest College placed second overall and earned multiple individual honors. Sofia Reese ’28 won a Best Attorney Award, and Maritza Martinez Segura ’27 and Nolen Heinrichs ’28 each earned Best Witness Awards—a remarkable set of achievements for a young program.

Students competing at Boiler Bash included prosecution teams led by Daniel Leuchtenberger ’26 and Shellane Shettleworth ’26, with teammates Reese, Nathaniel Henry ’26, Lia Taglia ’27, and Mila Uram ’27. Witnesses joining Thumser and Harges were Shannon Shane ’26 and Heinrichs.

For Thumser, the invitational was both a test of skill and a sign of the team’s rising potential.

“It was great to see the team get recognized for these awards. We have worked hard over the past few years to put our name in the mock trial world, and this is our continued steps toward that,” Thumser said. “We walked into Purdue with confidence from Dairyland, but we left knowing we can compete with programs that have been doing this for years.”

The team’s coach noted that the performances at Purdue highlight the rapid development of both individual competitors and the team as a whole.

“I am so proud of these teams—the amount of work these students put in day and night is extraordinary,” said Chair and Assistant Professor of Legal Studies Stephanie Caparelli. “We’ve been lucky to have help from a bunch of wonderful attorneys at scrimmages this semester.”

Support has come from alumni Annie O’Connor ’02 and Whitney Atkins ’07; judges including Honorable Sharmila Manak and Honorable Gabriel Conroe; and practicing lawyers across many areas of the profession—such as Jeff Facklam, Chief of the Criminal Division of the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office; Gavin Robinson, felony division attorney at the Lake County Public Defender’s Office; Amanda Urban, attorney with the Environmental Protection Agency; and former lawyers and current MLS students Sharon and Bill McFadden.

“It’s been such a boost for the students and a great way to connect alums and members of the bar in and around Lake County,” Caparelli said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do in preparation for regionals, but we go into the spring semester excited and optimistic about this program's future

The team’s early achievements also speak to the growing presence of Lake Forest College within the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA), the national organization that facilitates over 700 collegiate teams and 7,300 students each year.

With strong finishes at both Dairyland and Boiler Bash, the Foresters are building a foundation for continued success as they prepare for regionals at University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, February 27–March 1, 2026.