“Mock trials may not involve real facts, but they involve the use of real skills. And in the hands of skillful advocates, those fake facts come alive. They evoke real emotions.”
That sense of transformation was precisely what Assistant Clinical Professor Steven Van Dyke ’08, who oversaw the trials, captured in his remarks at the final round of the Boston College Law School 2025 Mock Trial Competition on October 16. As he observed, the students were like “alchemists.” The four advocates presenting Denning v. Zeta Lambda Nu Fraternity participated in a process of transmutation by turning a fictional case into a riveting courtroom drama that felt every bit as real as life itself.
The case centered on a tragic fraternity party accident at the University of Lone Star, where 20-year-old Kay Denning died after diving into a shallow makeshift pool. Her mother, Victoria Denning, sued the fraternity, alleging negligence and reckless conduct. The defense denied responsibility, claiming the incident was unforeseeable and that the fraternity treasurer’s actions fell outside the scope of the defendant’s authority.
Counsel for the plaintiff, Andrew Ordentlich ’26 and Katie Queally ’26, urged the jury to see a pattern of negligence, weaving together a narrative of carelessness and loss that aimed to leave no room for doubt about the fraternity’s role in Kay Denning’s death. Counsel for the defense, Katherine Ovoian ’27 and Leia Washington ’27, countered with measured reasoning, guiding the jury through a case built on logic, accountability, and the limits of foreseeability. Carrying those stories forward were four remarkably persuasive 1L witnesses, who breathed life into the unfolding narrative as a grieving friend (Noelle Prisco ’28), a responding officer (Grant Kintzler ’28), a party planner (Wayne Yeh ’28), and the fraternity treasurer (Owen Dougherty ’28).
Presiding over the round was Hon. Paul Barbadoro ’80 of the US District Court for the District of New Hampshire, who has judged the competition for more than three decades. He noted that this year’s competition was among the closest he had seen, with both teams delivering compelling advocacy that made for a difficult decision. After careful deliberation, he named Washington and Ovoian as the champions. Among them, Washington earned special recognition as Best Advocate, distinguishing herself through a commanding defense closing that left a lasting impression.
The competition also recognized several students for exceptional advocacy during the preceding rounds of the tournament. Outstanding Advocate Awards went to Portia Caruso, Thomas Lane, Andrew Ordentlich, Hannah Phillips, Shamus Miller, Leia Washington, and Sage Wenninghoff. Outstanding Witness Awards went to Shaan Desai, Clara Hartley, Brian Heaney, Katherine McCaffrey, Conner Packebush, Catherine Yackira, and Wayne Yeh.
As one of BC Law’s most competitive tournaments in recent years, this year’s Mock Trial once again exemplified the discipline, collaboration, and quick thinking that define advocacy at its best, especially when the outcome comes down to the wire.
Van Dyke thanked Sarah Kaplan ’26 and Bennet Dempsky ’27 for their efforts in organizing the competition. They were also assisted by a team of volunteers, consisting of both alumni and faculty members, and the support of Rosemary Daly, director of advocacy programs.