McConnell Scholars to compete at moot court nationals
Moot Court competitors Caleb Aridano (left) and Megan Crowley (right)
Louisville, Ky. (February 1, 2024) – McConnell Scholars Caleb Aridano (‘24) and Megan Crowley (‘25) have earned bids to the American Moot Court Association’s National Undergraduate Moot Court Competition.
After their second-place finish at the semi-final Bluegrass National Series Tournament on Jan. 19-20, team Aridano-Crowley advanced to the National Team Championship Tournament held at the Texas Tech School of Law in Lubbock, Texas on Feb. 9-10.
Aridano-Crowley were also recognized individually for their oratory skills, ranking as the tenth and fifth best orators, respectively, out of 64 competitors.
“Advancing to the national championship is a tremendous honor that is a testament to this program and the collective effort of our team,” said Aridano. “Megan and I have been very close to this point for a number of years, and we are excited to compete at this level.”
32 teams competed in the semi-final tournament, with only the top eight earning bids to the final competition. Aridano-Crowley previously competed in the preliminary Capital Classic Regional, finishing in the top 25% of teams to advance to the semi-finals.
Over 450 teams nationwide competed, with only 32 advancing to the National Team Championship Tournament.
“The McConnell Center is incredibly proud of Caleb’s and Megan’s hard work to excel in their appellate advocacy skills,” said McConnell Center Director Dr. Gary Gregg. “Our Moot Court program allows us to invest in the next generation of legal professionals, setting them up for success as they head into law school and beyond.”
Practicing countless hours throughout the fall and spring semesters, the McConnell Center Moot Court Team works in pairs to research and apply legal concepts to a hypothetical appellate case, refining their legal brief writing and oral advocacy skills.
The team is coached by Sean Williamson, a 2011 graduate of the McConnell Scholars Program and a partner in the Louisville office of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs LLP.