Stetson Trial Team wins regional competition; heads to Nationals in April

Sara Papantonio (left) and Raelyn Watson (center) won the regional National Trial Competition in Alabama and will head to the national finals in Texas in April. The winners are pictured here with their coach, Professor Julia Metts.
Sara Papantonio (left) and Raelyn Watson (center) won the regional National Trial Competition in Alabama and will head to the national finals in Texas in April. The winners are pictured here with their coach, Professor Julia Metts.

Stetson Law’s Trial Team won the regional National Trial Competition hosted by Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Ala., Feb. 7-9, 2020, and will head to the national finals in Fort Worth, Texas, in April!

NTC is one of the oldest and most prestigious trial competitions in the country, and two Stetson teams consisting of five advocates participated in the regional contest. The advocates were Sara Papantonio, Raelyn Watson, Matt Keen, Francesca Naumann, and Alicia Roddenberg. Both teams made it to the final round – making it the first time in eight years that two Stetson teams made it to the regional finals.

Sara Papantonio and Raelyn Watson were undefeated throughout the competition, winning all six rounds. This is the second year in a row that Sara Papantonio was on the regional winning team. 

“There is no way we could accomplish these milestones if not for the sacrifices of our students,” said Julia Metts, Stetson’s director of Trial Programs and Professor of Practice who coached the teams. “They gave up almost their entire winter break to practice for this competition.  We can’t thank them enough for all they sacrifice to help maintain our mission of Excellence in Advocacy.”    

Matt Keen, Francesca Naumann (center), and Alicia Roddenberg were finalists at the regional competition. This was the first time in eight years that two Stetson teams made the finals.
Matt Keen, Francesca Naumann (center), and Alicia Roddenberg were finalists at the regional competition. This was the first time in eight years that two Stetson teams made the finals.

Four student witnesses traveled with the trial teams and were praised for their professionalism throughout the process, Metts said. The students are Anna Zangari, Taylor Watson, Andie Larson, and Allen Wallace. 

Post date: Feb. 14, 2020

Media contact: Kate Bradshaw
[email protected] | 727-430-1580
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