Without the help of a coach, Penn State's Mock Trial Association -- the largest Mock Trial team nationwide -- debated its way to a seventh place finish overall in a national competition last weekend and will face 64 new teams April 8.

Ten members of the more than 100-person Mock Trial Association competed against Loras College, Boston College, Columbia University and Western Kentucky University last weekend, winning five ballots out of a possible eight and securing seventh place out of more than 50 teams.

Team member Carly Watts (freshman-industrial engineering) said her favorite part of the competition was splitting ballots with Columbia University. Because each team earned one ballot, Columbia was out of the running to win.

"They're rivals of ours, and I liked foiling their attempt to win," she said.

Watts said the team had to deal with tough competition.

"We had to adapt to some surprises and play some roles that we weren't expecting," Watts said. "We were in a very hard bracket, and the competition was very difficult."

Despite the fact that Penn State's organization is student-run, throughout the year they have prevailed over other professionally coached universities. "Our teams did so well at regionals that our coach was asked to stand [up in recognition]," Samantha Jones (sophomore-political science) said. "It was funny because our team doesn't have a coach."

The teams consist of eight people with three witnesses for each side of the case and two attorneys.

Before the competition, the team has no idea whether it will be the defendant or the plaintiff and must prepare both sides of the trial.

Both sides must prepare opening statements, question witnesses and give closing statements, just like in an actual trial. Normally, the competitions last about three hours.

Two judges, typically attorneys, judges or law professors, watch the competitions and give a ballot to the winning side.

"Mock Trial is a battle of wits, and the best teams are always on their feet," team member Paul Scanlon (senior-horticulture) said.

Scanlon added that although he is not an aspiring lawyer, he enjoyed the competition.

"The competition was exactly what I expected," he said. "It was pretty fun."

The team qualified for the national competition by taking third place at a regional competition at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in February.

Other members of the Mock Trial Association will compete against 64 teams at another national competition in Des Moines, Iowa, the weekend of April 8. To prepare for the competition, Jones said the club has meetings twice weekly to perfect their case and hone their skills.

Mock Trial President Justin Holmes said he expects the team to do well.

"I am sure both teams competing nationally will make the club proud," he said. "With the type of talent we have this year, there's no reason why we won't do well."