Zahra Alam
Zahra Alam (she/her) is a senior from Scottsdale double-majoring in Business Law and Global Politics. Outside of SDMT, she babysits, bakes, and loves to travel. Zahra hopes to become a criminal defense attorney and to be a voice for people. She’s excited this semester to compete, travel, and meet knew people. An Aquarius and ENTP “debater,” her favorite mock trial memory is any tournament she’s had that has been with Aanya. 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? Zahra enjoys an objectively cringy rom com. If she could have a superpower, it would be the ability to time travel!
Quote: “There are no missed opportunities, everything you missed was not yours.”
Year in SDMT: 3rd
Will Barrett
Will Barrett (he/him) is a senior 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, end his last year by making even more memories with his teammates! His favorite SDMT memory is winning an going to the national championship in 2025! His favorite movie is The Banshees of Inishering, book is The Fellowship of the Ring, and his favorite show is Jujutsu Kaisen. Will’s favorite food is sushi. He’ll argue Steph Curry isn’t even in the top 100 of all time for basketball players. 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 perfect pitch.
Quote: “I think perfection is ugly. Somewhere in the things humans make, I want to see scars.” -Yohji Yamamoto
Year in SDMT: 4th
Nufo Barocio
Nufo Barocio (he/him) is a senior from Gilbert, Arizona, double majoring in Political Science and Justice Studies. Outside of SDMT, he’s active in the Hispanic Student Business Association, the Hispanic Legal Student Association, and the Sigma Lamba Beta International Fraternity Inc. 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 and travel with his team. A lifelong fan of horror movies, Nufo’s favorite movie is Scream. 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: “Can’t compete where you don’t compare.”
Year in SDMT: 2nd
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 and to later become a judge. This semester, Hazel is excited to compete in Sundown Showdown and meet teams from all over the country! Her favorite mock trial memory is everyone crying happy tears after getting two bids to nationals. A Leo who loves The Shawshank Redemption, Hazel believes that she can listen to any conversation anywhere in the planet. Something you might not guess? Her favorite food is anything Italian, although she does appreciate the sushi from SumoMaya.
Quote: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Year in SDMT: 4th
Matt Crothers
Matt Crothers (he/him) is a senior from Prescott, Arizona, majoring in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Chemistry. He’s spent over a year interning at Doran Justice and hopes to find a career that balances his science background with law. This semester, he’s excited to get back to competing and start the journey to D.C. His favorite mock trial memory is playing football on the beach after making it to nationals. Matt loves Revenge of the Sith, barbecue from his Traeger, and reality-TV nights on the couch. He jokes he can cook minute rice in 58 seconds—usually after a Peach Red Bull—and his unpopular opinion is that Cava just isn’t good. If he had a superpower, it would be teleportation.
Quote: “A D-Lineman gets one sack a game… he’ll be a top five pick. You give up one sack a game, you’re gonna work at Amazon. Nothing wrong with that, but whenever we’re here, that’s what we’re striving for.” — Will Campbell
Year in SDMT: 5th
Elle Downey
Elle Downey (she/her) is a senior from Mesa, Arizona, majoring in Economics. She loves going to the beach, paddle boarding, reading, and spending time with her beautiful cat, Finnick. Elle isn’t sure yet where her career path will take her, but she knows she wants to do something she’s passionate about—something that helps people. This semester, she’s excited to meet all the new members joining SDMT and to watch everyone grow throughout the year. Her favorite mock trial memory is finding out that the team didn’t just get one, but two bids to nationals—for the first time in over a decade. A Pisces who swears by pasta in all its forms, Elle also loves Game of Thrones and The Kite Runner, as well as a good dirty iced chai. Her secret talent is meeting D-list celebrities, especially at airports! Something Elle believes? That Grace could land a plane if she put her mind to it.
Quote: “Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable” – Mary Oliver
Year in SDMT: 4th
Reid Foster
Reid Foster (he/him) is a junior from Tucson, Arizona, studying Data Science and Economics. Outside of class, he plays video games and takes care of his one-eyed dog Picasso. Reid is hoping for a job in research and development for a big company, and potentially going to law school or getting his masters one day. He’s excited to help out members wherever he can this year and his favorite mock trial memory is getting a bid to nationals! 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
Year in SDMT: 4th
Ethan Hammons
Ethan Hammons (he/him) is a senior from Mesa, Arizona. He is happiest watching sports, working out, or playing—and hopefully winning— a poker game. He dreams of building a career that keeps him financially stable, fulfilled, and learning something new every single day. This year, he’s excited to meet the newbies and try out an attorney role! One of his favorite mock trial memories was the Las Vegas tournament, where he explored the strip, visited different casinos, and bonded with new teammates. A Leo that loves sushi, and medium-rare steak, his favorite movie is Stand By Me, and his favorite show is The Sopranos, (and also Sex and the City). You could say Ethan’s hot take is that he enjoys the Arizona heat, and would choose sunshine over snow any day. You can find him with a dirty soda in hand, and might not expect that his favorite music genre is country. If Ethan could have any superpower, he’d freeze time to both catch up on sleep, and experience more of life. Above all, Ethan values his family and friends and believes success means little without the people he loves by his side.
Quote: “Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men.” – JFK
Year in SDMT: 2nd
Kendall Howard
Kendall Howard (she/her) is a senior currently studying Criminology and Criminal Justice. Originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Kendall is hoping to graduate from ASU this year and attend law school for entertainment law! In her free time, Kendall enjoys watching every movie and tv show known to man, so don’t be afraid to ask her for any recommendations. This year, she’s excited to perfect her witness role and her favorite mock trial memory was a home-cooked last fall with her teammates. She loves pasta with marinara, X-Men: Days of Future Past, The Book Thief, and The Bear, and you can usually find her with a Shirley Temple and a Little Debbie snack nearby. An Aries and INFJ, she preaches everyone should be a little less afraid of being cringey. Her hidden talent is being insanely good with kids of all ages, and if she could have any superpower, she’d choose teleportation. Above all, she’s motivated by knowing she has the potential to be successful—and owes it to herself to realize that potential..
Quote: “Comparison is the thief of joy.” — Theodore Roosevelt
Year in SDMT: 2nd
Manasvi Jagtap
Manasvi Jagtap (she/her) is a senior from Chander, Arizona, majoring in Finance and Business Law. Manasvi hopes to work in big law, but is currently testing whether FL Studio or the Bloomberg Terminal might offer a backup career if law doesn’t work out. This year, she’s most excited to meet the newbies and compete alongside her friends. Her favorite mock trial memory is eating her favorite food,. In-N-Out, on the beach after a tournament. When she’s not rewatching Breaking Bad, she enjoys making music, following finance, and gambling! An Aries inspired by NYC Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, she is adamant about fighting for what she believes in and bringing back logic games to the LSAT. If she could have any superpower, she’d split-screen her brain so she could have multiple visual displays running at once throughout her day.
Quote: “Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are” – Theodore Roosevelt
Year in SDMT: 4th
Year in SDMT: 3rd
Gracy Nagy
Grace Nagy (she/her) is a senior from Mesa, Arizona, studying Philosophy with a concentration in Morality, Politics & Law and Global Studies. Outside of SDMT, she works at ASU’s Global Education Office and is spending this fall interning with the Public Defender’s Office! Grace hopes to eventually becoming a lawyer in the public interest sector, and helping out as many people as she can. This year, she’s excited to meet all the new faces and watch everyone grow in their skills and confidence. Some of her favorite mock trial memories are qualifying for Nationals her sophomore year and ORCS her junior year—because there’s nothing better than celebrating hard work with friends. She loves learning new crafts, eating basically any kind of dumpling, sipping dirty chais, and indulging in reality TV. A Leo, she’s motivated by becoming someone her childhood self would have looked up to. Her unpopular opinion? Elle could defeat one trillion ants if she really put her mind to it. And if she could have any superpower, she’d choose teleportation.
Quote: “You must not ever stop being whimsical. And you must not, ever, give anyone else the responsibility for your life.” — Mary Oliver
Year in SDMT: 4th
