The Glenwood Springs Mock Trial Team made history this past weekend, earning second place at the Empire Mock Trial World Championship Tournament. Competing against 43 other teams from five countries and 15 states, Glenwood Springs’ seven-member team delivered a performance no other team from their school had achieved before, finishing just shy of the world championship title.

Taking place in the U.S. District Court in Chicago, Glenwood Springs faced off against some of the most accomplished mock trial teams from around the world. Despite the intense stakes, the team triumphed through each preliminary round, winning seven out of eight ballots in the invitation-only event. Their impressive showing propelled them to the final championship round, where they went head-to-head with a team from Minnesota.

After defeating four of the top 10 teams in the tournament during preliminary rounds, Glenwood Springs entered the final round in high spirits, ready to leave it all on the courtroom floor. They presented their case before a panel that included U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Coleman, ultimately losing in a close 4-3 split decision to Minnesota.

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For the seniors, this championship marked the pinnacle of years of dedication. Four Glenwood seniors — Elizabeth Fullerton, Mason McCarty, Claire Quintenz, and Eva Simpson — earned individual awards, standing out in a highly competitive field. Fullerton earned the title of third-best witness, McCarty was awarded ninth-best witness, while Quintenz and Simpson tied for eighth-best attorney. Other members of the team included freshman Zane Bergman, sophomore Allison Quintenz and junior Sophie Erdman.

“Winning even one individual award or a team award is usually a huge deal,” Parsons said. “Last year, we placed ninth, which was the first time in a long time we cracked the top 10, and we had maybe one individual award. This year, we took home four. To have Elizabeth Fullerton named the third-best witness is phenomenal.”

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Reflecting on the weekend, senior Claire Quintenz couldn’t contain her pride. 

“This was an incredible weekend from start to finish,” Quintenz said. “After winning state last year and going to Nationals, we lost about half of our team, but those of us who came back—and the new teammates we brought on—were all so dedicated.”

The road to Empire wasn’t easy. Starting in July, the team committed to intense practice sessions, spending around 20 hours a week at the courthouse to prepare, according to Parsons. They also traveled to the Constitutional Classic tournament in Philadelphia earlier in the season, finishing sixth and using the experience to refine their strategies.

“To give you a sense of the work involved, this case came out in July, and from then until we left for Chicago, these kids practiced at least 20 hours a week,” Parsons said. “They had a warm-up tournament in Philadelphia, which was a great experience for our younger students too.”

Facing teams from around the world offered Glenwood’s students insights into diverse styles and strategies they don’t usually encounter. 

“It’s such a fantastic experience,” Quintenz said. “Empire is so well-organized and challenging, putting us head-to-head with these amazing teams — some of the absolute best.”

The intense preparation for Empire became invaluable as they now focus on the state season. Having mastered the 270-page Empire case, the team is turning to the state-level competition, which has a shorter but equally challenging case. 

“Prepping for Empire is an entirely different ballgame,” Quintenz said. “The Empire case can be over 150 pages, while the state case is usually 50 to 100. Empire is full-speed preparation up to the competitions in October and November.”

As they look ahead to the regional tournament in Grand Junction in January, the team is already seeing the impact of their Empire experience.

“Empire gets us ready to hit the ground running,” Quintenz said. “It’s great to already be in mock trial mode instead of starting from scratch on the new state case.”

For Quintenz, the journey to second place wasn’t just about winning; it was about growth and resilience. 

“We took what should have been a rebuilding year and turned it into one of our best seasons,” Quintenz said. “It’s amazing how hard work paid off. A few years ago, we were just trying to make it through. It’s awesome to be on such an incredible team and be in a position to even be in contention for those really high level awards to begin with. It’s such an honor, and it’s just unbelievable from where we’ve come since I started out as a freshman.”

The Demons’ mock trial team will next make their way to the Western Slope Regional Tournament in Grand Junction on Feb. 22. If the Demons’ are to win, they will head to the state tournament in Pueblo on March 14.