The Denison University Moot Court team had its best performance ever at the 2009 National Tournament, held at Chapman University Law School in Orange County California, Jan. 16 and 17.

For the first time, Denison had two teams break into the final round of 32, and in an outstanding individual performance, senior John Burzynski (New Brighton, Minn.) earned the second place individual orator award.

To compete at the National Tournament, students must place highly at the regional tournaments. Out of 64 total teams, from 27 different colleges and universities around the nation, Denison had four teams who were awarded bids to the National competition, including the two teams of juniors Blair Cathcart (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) and Elizabeth Zak (Broadview Heights, Ohio) and junior Ian Darrow (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) and senior Erin Kelly (Hudson, Ohio).

The team consisting of this year’s co-captains, senior Tiffany Allen (Cincinnati, Ohio) and sophomore Brandon Haas (Fayetteville, Ark.), as well the team with Burzynski and junior Greg Kendall (Westlake, Ohio), won out on the first day of competition to advance to the second day’s round of 32. Both teams lost in the first round of the second day on very close 2-1 split decisions.

Out of 218 students competing, Burzynski averaged almost perfect scores over three rounds, allowing him to capture the second place individual orator award for the entire nation and a $10,000 scholarship to Chapman University Law School, should he continue his education there after graduating from Denison.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575