Sixteen Law Schools. One Champion: Top Gun XVI Takes Flight May 28 at Baylor Law School

Sixteen of the nation’s most formidable student trial lawyers will converge on Baylor Law School from May 28 to June 1 for the sixteenth annual Top Gun National Mock Trial Competition—one of the country’s most prestigious and demanding events for student advocates.

The sixteen competitors are selected by their schools for their advocacy skills and winning achievements in other mock trial competitions. They will receive the case file just 24 hours before the opening rounds, requiring them to swiftly analyze large amounts of complex materials and documents and devise a compelling case strategy under considerable time constraints.

In addition to bragging rights as the 2025 Top Gun, the competition winner will receive a $10,000 prize, made possible through the generous support of MG+M The Law Firm, which also sponsors networking sessions for Baylor Law School students during the event.

“Top Gun challenges students in a way no other competition can,” said Robert Little, Director of Advocacy Programs at Baylor Law School. “It demands clarity of thought, command of courtroom skills, and the ability to perform at the highest level under pressure. We are proud to host a competition that both highlights and advances the standard of excellence in trial advocacy.”

The competition begins with an orientation and welcome dinner on the evening of Wednesday, May 28. Competitors will receive their case files the following morning. Preliminary rounds will be held from Friday, May 30, through Sunday, June 1, with the semifinal round beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday. The final round will be held later that day at 2:00 p.m. and will be livestreamed at https://www.baylor.edu/law/live.

The 16 students competing in Top Gun XVI are:

• Samantha Border - Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law 
• Gabriella Youash - Chicago-Kent College of Law
• Brian Boatwright - Mercer University School of Law
• Sarah Paul - Ohio State University, Michael E. Moritz College of Law
• Justin Fuller - St. John’s University School of Law
• Grayson Walden - Samford University, Cumberland School of Law
• Memona Niazi - South Texas College of Law Houston
• Madeleine Bodiford - Stetson University College of Law
• John Rutecki - Syracuse University College of Law
• Brian Anderson - UC Berkeley Law
• Kensington Cotter - UCLA School of Law
• Kieran Woerner - University of Denver Sturm College of Law
• Drake Jones - University of Georgia School of Law
• Ashley Travis - University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
• Grace Naumowich - University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law
• Kelsey McCafferty - Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law

As the host institution, Baylor Law School does not field a competitor in the competition.