Class of 2027

Zahra Alam

Zahra Alam (she/her) is a junior from Scottsdale double-majoring in Business Law and Global Politics. Outside of SDMT, she babysits, bakes, and loves to travel. Zahra hopes to become an international lawyer and eventually work at the International Court of Justice. She’s excited this semester to compete, travel, and keep learning from her teammates. An Aquarius and ENTP “debater,” her favorite mock trial memory is she was at the airport with aanya and found out that her team got a bid to ORCS. Zahra will always say yes to edamame dumplings and her favorite movies include 30 Rock and The Grand Budapest Hotel. Something you wouldn’t guess? She collects long socks. Zahra usually orders hot green tea with honey and lemon, admits her guilty pleasure is dark chocolate (80–100% cacao only), and her unpopular opinion is that crunchy peanut butter is better than creamy. If she could have a superpower, it would be teleportation!

Quote: “There are no missed opportunities, everything you missed was not yours.”

Anthem: Throw It In – Lil Wayne

Year in SDMT: 2nd

Will Barrett

Will Barrett (he/him) is a junior from Tucson studying Political Science and Economics, as well as Military Leadership. Outside of SDMT, he’s a cadet in the Sun Devil Battalion, training as part of Army ROTC. He also plays intramural pickleball, climbs, and beats his friends in Magic the Gathering. Will is working toward becoming a JAG lawyer in the United States Army. This semester, he’s excited to meet new members, help them grow, and win lots of tournaments. His favorite SDMT memory is winning an all-national attorney award and getting two bids to the national championship, all in a 20 minute window. He says that “it was a surreal feeling”. His favorite movie is  Good Will Hunting, book is The Fellowship of the Ring, and the show is Mashle. Will’s favorite food is sushi (and shark he tried in Morocco) and says his Myers-Briggs type is simply “cool dude.” He’ll argue Steph Curry is only the 168th best basketball player of all time. Something surprising? He has his fair share of theatre experience, directing 2 full length productions. His go-to caffeine fix is what he calls a “brain destroyer” from QuikTrip (part Rooster Booster, part Mountain Dew Red). His guilty pleasure is League of Legends, and his dream superpower is flight.

Quote: “I don’t know how I’ll feel when I’m dead, but I don’t want to regret the way I lived.” — Yuji Itadori

Anthem: Tokyo Love Hotel – Rina Sawayama

Year in SDMT: 3rd

Nufo Barocio

Nufo Barocio (he/him) is a junior from Gilbert, Arizona, double majoring in Political Science and Justice Studies. Outside of SDMT, he’s active in the Hispanic Student Business Association and the Hispanic Legal Student Association, where he’s currently running for a board position. Nufo is also a licensed realtor for the state of Arizona and a part-time DJ, often spinning house music at parties and making new friends in the process. He hopes to become an attorney and one day start his own law firm dedicated to empowering the Hispanic community. This semester, he’s excited to keep growing as a competitor, strengthen his speaking skills, and build lifelong friendships on the team. A lifelong fan of horror movies, Nufo insists that Victorious isn’t as great as people say, and he loves a good seafood boil. Fueled by plain black coffee and guilty pleasures of brain-rot TV, Nufo is a proud Leo who adds bold energy to the team. If he could choose a superpower, it would be telekinesis.

Quote: “You’ll never believe what just happened to me.”

Anthem:Just Dance – Lady Gaga

Year in SDMT: 1st

Hazel Cates

Hazel Cates (she/her) is a senior from Ahwatukee majoring in Business Law and pursuing certificates in International Business, Leadership in Business, and Ethics. She works at a rock climbing gym, climbs in her free time, and dreams of one day opening her own criminal defense firm—but she’s keeping an open mind as she explores different areas of law. This semester, Hazel is pumped to travel with her team to Texas, compete with some of her best friends, and help new members feel supported and confident. Her favorite mock trial memory is everyone scrambling for cell service to call their parents after SDMT earned two bids to nationals—and celebrating that high all night long. A Leo who loves The Shawshank Redemption and The Creative Act by Rick Rubin, Hazel swears by a hazelnut latte with almond milk and admits her guilty pleasure is Taco Bell. Something you might not guess? She can do a pull-up with two fingers. Her unpopular opinion: Thin Mints are overrated. If she could have a superpower, it would be simple—being lucky.

Quote: “The harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.” — Thomas Jefferson

Anthem: Maneater – Nelly Furtado

Year in SDMT: 3rd

Redi Foster

Reid Foster (he/him) is a junior from Tucson, Arizona, studying Chemical Engineering and Economics. Outside of class, he plays video games and lifts weights. Reid hopes to become an attorney, either in civil litigation or patents, and he’s excited to travel and compete with the best teams in the country this year. His favorite mock trial memory is getting a nats bid last season. A Scorpio who swears Patrick Mahomes isn’t a top-5 all-time QB, he loves tacos, Good Will Hunting, Norwegian Wood, and Game of Thrones. Something surprising? He can eat incredibly hot wings. He takes his coffee dark, hot, and black, admits his guilty pleasure is Dave Blunts, and would choose teleportation as his superpower.

Quote: “I’m at your house like, ‘why you got your couch on my Chucks…’” — Earl Sweatshirt

Anthem: Margiela Split Toes – Westside Gunn

Year in SDMT: 3rd

Ethan Hammons

Ethan Hammons (he/him) is a junior from Mesa, Arizona, majoring in Business Law. He balances school with a part-time job and loves tossing pizza dough—a skill he perfected during his time working at Venezia’s. Ethan hopes to one day serve the community he grew up in as a judge and maybe even run for state legislature. This semester, he’s excited to learn more about the mock trial process and make new friends along the way. He loves sushi, Stand By Me, and The Sopranos (though The Wire is a close second). His guilty pleasure is listening to Lady Gaga’s early hits on repeat, and his unpopular opinion is that pineapple absolutely belongs on pizza. He fuels up with Dutch Bros’ Shark Attack Rebels and dreams of saving on gas by flying everywhere.

Quote: “Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men.”

Anthem:Flashing Lights – Kanye West

Year in SDMT: 1st

Kendall Howard

Kendall Howard (she/her) is a junior from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice. New to Arizona, she’s using mock trial to meet people and learn more about the law. Kendall hopes to practice as a tax or contract lawyer and has a talent for jazz singing in her spare time. An Aries and INFJ, she lives by Theodore Roosevelt’s words: “Comparison is the thief of joy.” She loves X-Men: Days of Future Past, The Book Thief, and The Bear, and she’ll stand by her hot take that Taylor Swift isn’t the best vocalist out there. Kendall’s guilty pleasure is bingeing CW shows like The Flash and Arrow, and her go-to drink is a chai tea latte with almond milk. If she could have a superpower, she’d stop time itself.

Quote: “Comparison is the thief of joy.” — Theodore Roosevelt

Anthem: LOYALTY. – Kendrick Lamar ft. Rihanna

Year in SDMT: 1st

Manasvi Jagtap

Manasvi Jagtap (she/her) is a junior from Chandler, AZ studying finance and business law. Outside of her role as a student in SDMT, she keeps busy working at a Tempe law firm and reading various Kafka stories. Manasvi’s goals for the future center around her goals to work as a lawyer and owning the eternally-classic Rolls Royce by 45. Her favorite mock trial memory were all the road trips with Andrew and Bella last year, and she cannot wait to make even more new friends this semester! Manasvi’s guilty pleasure is mac and cheese, which is also her favorite food — afterall, mac and cheese is perfect. When she needs a boost, she loves a chai latte with oat milk and brown sugar syrup. Manasvi’s unpopular opinion is that influencers deserve just as much leniency as everyone else.

Quote: “Do good, be good.”

Anthem: Anything Playboi Carti

Year in SDMT: 3rd

Isabella Krueger

Isabella “Bella” Krueger (she/her) is a junior from Ahwatukee majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice with a minor in Homeland Security. When she’s not studying, she’s usually at work, reading, or working on her car. Bella hopes to work for the federal government in investigations or intelligence. This semester, she’s looking forward to improving her skills, meeting new members, and heading back to Nationals. An Aquarius and ENFP, she proudly admits she hates pickleball. Her favorites include Arrested Development, Django Unchained, and The Secret History by Donna Tartt. Something you wouldn’t guess? She used to be a competitive figure skater. Her go-to is an iced white mocha, her guilty pleasure is watching long YouTube video essays, and her dream superpower is mind reading.

Quote: “You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

Anthem:Parabola – TOOL

Year in SDMT: 3rd

Iris Lai

Iris Lai (she/her) is a junior from Chandler, Arizona, majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Biology. She works at an orthopedic clinic, loves painting and thrifting, and is a trained animal handler for dogs, cats, birds, snakes, hedgehogs, tortoises, ferrets, and more. Iris plans to go to medical school and hopes to specialize in cardiology or dermatology. This semester, she’s excited to meet everyone and kick off the new year with SDMT. A Taurus and ENFJ, she swears drinks without ice are superior. She’s all about noodle dishes, The Good Place, and peach lemonade or strawberry matcha for a caffeine boost. Her guilty pleasure is watching reality TV, and if she could pick a superpower, it would be controlling time.

Quote: “If you only have one smile in you, give it to the people you love.” — Maya Angelou

Anthem:Think Later – Tate McRae

Year in SDMT: 3rd

Gracy Nagy

Grace Nagy (she/her) is a junior from Mesa, Arizona, double majoring in Philosophy (Morality, Politics & Law) and Global Studies. She’s already had a taste of the legal world through internships in law and politics, and on weekends, she trades business attire for ballgowns—working as a princess performer at children’s birthday parties. Grace hopes to attend law school and pursue a career in civil rights law. This semester, she’s excited to see how SDMT grows while she’s abroad and looks forward to returning with new experiences and reconnecting with her teammates. Her favorite mock trial memory is the team earning two bids out of ORCS last season. A Leo and ENFJ, Grace loves Arrival, The Song of Achilles, and Arrested Development. Her guilty pleasure is rewatching the same movies over and over again, and when she’s not cross-stitching or embroidering “like an old lady,” you’ll find her with a dirty chai in hand. She insists that Elle Downey could defeat one trillion ants—and if she had a superpower, she’d want that exact one.

Quote: “You must not ever stop being whimsical. And you must not, ever, give anyone else the responsibility for your life.” — Mary Oliver

Anthem: Back to the Basics – Lana Del Rey

Anthem: “Heartbeat” – Childish Gambino

Year in SDMT: 3rd

Connor Riley

Connor Riley (he/him) is a junior from Beaverton, Oregon, studying Business Law and Thought & Political Economy. When he’s not in class, he’s either working out, cooking, or hanging out with friends. Connor hopes to pursue a career in corporate or sports law and is fired up to win tournaments and grow with the team this semester. He loves steak, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1, and sipping a vanilla latte with four shots of espresso. A Libra who swears Henry Cavill was the best Superman, Connor also has a soft spot for Britney Spears playlists. Something you wouldn’t guess? He’s into philosophy readings in his downtime. If he had a superpower, it would be the ability to control time.

Quote: “Do or do not, there is no try.” – Yoda

Anthem:Sports Car – Tate McRae

Year in SDMT: 2nd