California Mock Trial 2023-2024
Chris ying - President
5th year - Majors: mathematics, history
Other Activities: The Daily Californian, Debate Society of Berkeley, Cal Judo Club, Cal teach in prison
Fun Fact: I didn't learn how to ride a bike until COVID.
About me: Go read other people's bios, I'm not very interesting.
Chris’s awards:
2024 uc berkeley university medalist
2024 Great chicago fire invitational - chicago, il - outstanding witness (23/30 ranks)
2023 GaMtI Tournament - Washington, DC (UVA) - OUtstanding attorney (29/35 ranks)
2023 AAMTI IX - Berkeley, Ca - OUTSTANDING Attorney (18/20 RANKS)
2023 Seattle Regionals - Seattle, WA - OUTSTANDING Attorney (18/20 RANKS)
2023 Great Chicago Fire Invitational - Chicago, IL - OUTSTANDING Attorney (24/30 RANKS)
2022 GAMTI tournament - WASHINGTON, DC (UVA) - OUTSTANDING WITNESS (27/30 RANKS)
2022 National Championship - Lancaster, pA - All-American Witness (23/30 Ranks)
2022 Regionals 3-j (online) outstanding witness (16/20 ranks)
2022 Great chicago fire - ONline (uchicago) outstanding Witness (20/20 ranks)
2021 sundown showdown - tempe, az (asu) oustanding attorney (18/20 ranks)
2020 atypical - berkeley, ca - outstanding attorney (17/20 ranks)
Jeffrey Fang — treasurer
2nd year - major: molecular and cell biology and computer science
Other Activities: constantly Making sure Emma and Chris don’t go off the rails
Fun fact: Boba addict that hates boba (as a topping)
About Me: Always down to talk about cdramas, chess, classical music, and the case
Prisha bhadra - Harm Response co-Chair
3rd year - she/her - Major: political science, minor: physics
Other activities: ASUC, BERKELEY PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY SCHOLARS, SPEECH AND DEBATE COACHING, VOLUNTEERING AT ANIMAL SHELTERS, DANCE, AND ICE SKATING
fun fact: I almost auditioned for FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman as a child, but they ended the show before I got my chance in the spotlight. They knew my fame would be too powerful.
about me: MY TOP 5 THINGS (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER): SPACE, DOGS, GARLIC FRIES, CONVERSE HIGH TOPS, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
cassidy holtzapple
4th year - Major: Philosophy and legal studies
Other activities: Student Advocate's Office, Cal Hiking Adventure Outdoor Society, surfing (more accurately: wiping out), and drinking coffee
fun fact: I can (and often do) eat four pounds of grapes in one sitting
about me: I've had the Glee cast recordings on repeat for the past few days, I am a Settlers of Catan champion, and if I were a kitchen tool, I'd be a muffin tin
Cassidy’s awards:
2024 Uclassic - los angeles, ca - outstanding witness (19/20 ranks)
2024 Uclassic - los angeles, ca - outstanding witness (17/20 ranks)
2023 Great Chicago Fire Invitational - Chicago, IL - Outstanding Witness (27/30 ranks)
2022 Regionals 3-E (online) Outstanding Witness (17/20 ranks)
2021 sundown showdown - tempe, az (asu) oustanding witness (18/20 ranks)
2021 AAMTI VII - Berkeley, CA (UC BERKELEY) oustanding witness (16/20 ranks)
dhruv muralidhar
4th year - Majors: business administration and political science
Other activities: Business Review at Berkeley & TASSEL Cambodia
fun fact:I have been to over 190 countries according to my passport. I visited the UN HQ when I was ten and got my passport stamped. Since the HQ is on sovereign land owned by all member states, I have technically been to them all.
about me: Originally from Michigan, so I can wear shorts when it's "cold"
dhruv’s awardS:
2023 AAMTI IX - Berkeley, CA - outstanding attorney award (19/20 ranks)
2023 Atypical - Berkeley, CA - outstanding attorney award (17/20 ranks)
2022 Regional Series (online) - All-Regional Attorney (17/20 ranks)
Mark Verzhbinsky
3rd year - he/him - Major: political science, Minor: data science
Other activities: Head of the Cal FAST Design Department, UCB Hillel Data Intern, Staring at the sky
fun fact: I sew my own clothes!
about me: Born and raised in SF! I love public transportation and would die for most bus drivers.
Mark’s awards:
2024 atypical - berkeley, ca - outstanding witness (18/20 ranks)
gabriel alexander juarez
3rd year - he/him - Major: political science
Other activities: Songwriting, reading, playing video games, playing my guitar, going on hikes, watching movies.
fun fact: I am in two bands, neither of which have taken off... yet.
about me: I'm from Los Angeles, California and I love meeting new people and exploring new places. I also absolutely love music and I talk about it constantly.
ALEX’S awards:
2022 BEACH PARTY - IRVINE (UCI) - OUTSTANDING WITNESS (17/20 RANKS)
Melinda Lu
1st year - she/her - Major: Political science
Other activities: Chi Omega, Undergraduate Political Science Association, working out, sewing, watching shows.
fun fact: I Unironically listen to house music.
about me: I am a political science major from San Diego, CA! I love to hike, workout, sew, and watch netflix shows!
Lucy Cavalluzzi
1st year - she/her - Major: Political Science
Other activities: BareStage Productions Prop Design, Babysitting, Beach Going, Romance Novel Reading
fun fact: My grandma and her sisters had a reality tv show on the Oprah Winfrey Network (it’s called The Three Golden Sisters!)
about me: I’ve spent the past five years on the run from the Italian Mafia because they thought I was a the direct descendant of a Sicilian princess. It turns out they were actually looking for Lucia Cavaluzzi with one L instead of two so I was able to come out of hiding this year.
Natalie Greene
1st year - she/her - Major: Undeclared
Other activities: Social media for MyShake, the earthquake early warning app (Go download it!)
fun fact: There's a rumor that I'm a slow driver.
about me: New Girl is the best TV show and hiking is also pretty cool.
mihika balaji - Harm response co-chair
2nd year - she/her - Major: Computer science and cognitive science
Other activities: Research at UCB social welfare, asuc administrative office, data science discovery, managing @thepinkprojectca, and kappa alpha theta!! :)
fun fact: My bike's name is Silver and she's green.
about me: I managed a taylor swift TikTok Stan account for 2 years and accumulated over 100K likes
Mihika’s awards:
2024 atypical - berkeley, ca - outstanding attorney (20/20 ranks)
roma Nagle
2nd year - she/her - Majors: data science and molecular cell biology
Other Activities: Obsessively scrolling through reddit, procrastinating on homework, rating every single drink at Plentea, and listening to science/philosophy podcasts...for fun
Fun Fact: I will never ever get tired of the lemon chicken and arugula salad from trader joe’s. go ask my mom.
About me: I have a fruit, an Academy-award winning film, a soccer team, and a city named after me. I'm just that famous :)
Amyah Maze
1st year - she/her - MAJOR: Undeclared
Other activities: Mock Trial is the only club I have time for because I am taking 19 units.
fun fact: I have 13 siblings, and I'm the oldest!
about me: I love to learn languages! I am learning Korean and Chinese right now.
Amaralyn Ewey
3rd year - she/her - Major: political science
Other activities: BareTroupe, Bookseller, Musical Theatre.
fun fact: I can recite 100 digits of pi.
about me: I love all things Star Wars & Disney! I read 150+ books a year. My favorite color is purple.
Emma kay
1st year - she/her - Major: Undeclared
Other activities: Psychology research internship, singing/playing guitar, and buying too many books.
fun fact: I fly planes on occasion.
about me: I believe you can know everything you need to know about a person through their favorite taylor swift song.
Sophia Fingerman
3rd year - she/her - Major: English - Minor: Creative WRiting
Other activities: Alpha Delta Pi, Reading incessantly, writing bad notes app poetry, stress-crafting
fun fact: I was a synchronized swimmer for 10 years
about me: I start listening to Christmas music in July and my dream job is editing romance novels.
Sophia’s awards:
2023 Anteater.- Irvine, CA - Outstanding Witness (9/10 ranks)
2022 3-G Regional (online) - Outstanding Witness (18/20 ranks)
2022 Drexel Dragon Invitational (online) - Outstanding Witness (16/20 ranks)
Sydney reyes - Tournament Director
2nd year - she/her - Majors: psychology and political science
Other activities: kappa alpha theta, theatre, choir, & professional binge-watcher
fun fact: I was on the news in a cow costume!
about me: mitski stan but will smile singing all the lyrics
Sydney’s Awards:
2023 atypical - Berkeley, CA - outstanding witness award (17/20)
Kaia savage - auxiliary Treasurer
2nd year - she/her - Majors: rhetoric and Women & gender studies
Other activities: Hillel, Hiking, Camping, Fly-Fishing, Yoga, Writing
fun fact: I used to be an acrobat
about me: I do a daily gratitude journal
Kaia’s Awards:
2024 uclassic - los angeles, ca - outstanding attorney (19/20 ranks)
2023 Anteater - Irvine, CA - OUTSTANDING Witness (10/10 RANKS)
nicholas patel - Social chair
2nd year - he/him - Major: philosophy, minor: music
Other activities: Triathlon, Ski Team
fun fact: There was a point where I was actively playing and practicing five instruments.
about me: I’m from Northern California. Last year Spotify said I was in my favorite band’s top 0.005% listeners… I had somehow never been to a concert.
Nicholas’s awards:
2024 atypical - berkeley, ca - outstanding witness (18/20 ranks)
luka samardzija
3rd year - Majors: economics or business
Other activities: Guitar player, gym goer, and skramz enjoyer
fun fact: I’m usually a capable woodworker and welder, besides that one time I sanded part of my finger off.
about me: I will wear basketball shorts with socks and crocs anywhere and everywhere. Don’t test me on this.
Luka’s awards
2023 regionals — Fresno, CA — OUTSTANDING WITNESS (18/20)
2023 regionals — Fresno, CA — OUTSTANDING WITNESS (16/20)
2022 AAMTI viii — OUTSTANDING WITNESS (16/20)
sam heyman
3rd year - he/him - Majors: global studies, ancient greek and roman studies
Other Activities: Guitar, Dungeons and Dragons, watching movies, failing at video games, and wandering
Fun Fact: One of my best friends in kindergarten and first grade is now Tony Hawk’s stepson.
About me: In fourth grade I won the “scariest Halloween costume” at my school’s Halloween party.)
Riya
1st year - she/her - Major: Undeclared
Other activities: ASUC Legal Clinic, YDSA.
fun fact: I used to deseed and eat an entire pomegranate every single day.
about me: I enjoy reading, crocheting, binging sitcoms, and playing with my French bulldog.
Pooja agarwal
1st year - she/her - Major: Undeclared
Other activities: Women in Computing and Data Science, ULAB, eating sour candy, bullet journaling, watching GBBO, keeping my one "low-maintenance" plant alive.
fun fact: I spend far too much time every weekend getting emotionally invested in Formula 1 drivers going around a race track and trying to convince my friends to also mindlessly participate in the viewing experience.
about me: I was born in Kirkland, which basically makes me a Costco product.
Michelle Croteau
2nd year - she/her - Major: Undeclared
Other activities: Social media for MyShake, the earthquake early warning app (Go download it!)
fun fact: I will ALWAYS find an excuse to talk about Taylor Swift... Even in my defense closing.
about me: I like rotting in bed writing while watching tv or drinking enough caffeine to cause heart palpitations.