Class of 2028

Sophia Baniameri

Sophia Baniameri (she/her) is a sophomore from Chandler majoring in Finance and Business Law. She balances school with tennis, workouts, concerts, and spontaneous plans with friends. Sophia is aiming for law school and a career as an attorney, and she’s excited to compete at tournaments this semester. She’s into The Shawshank Redemption, cottage cheese, and Drake’s Trophies. She’ll admit she doesn’t like boba (a hot take), and her guilty pleasure is watching “terrible” movies. Her usual coffee order is a cold brew with oat milk and sugar-free vanilla, and if she could pick a superpower, it would be time travel.

Quote: “You have to be able to accept failure to get better.” — LeBron James

Anthem: Trophies – Drake

Year in SDMT: 2nd

Vivan Boetger

Vivian Boetger (she/her) is a sophomore from Scottsdale studying Law and Human Behavior. She’s involved in the Criminal Justice Advocates and spends her free time playing basketball—she’s played competitively for years. Vivian hopes to pursue a career as a defense lawyer and is excited to meet all the new members this semester. Her favorites include BLTs from Chiba Hut, Now You See Me, and Grey’s Anatomy. She’s an ENTJ-T who proudly says if you’re aware of your child’s disability before birth, you should choose not to have them. She usually drinks chai tea, admits her guilty pleasure is watching ice-eating ASMR, and says people might not guess she played five years of competitive basketball. Her theme song would be Blame It by Jamie Foxx & T-Pain, and if she could have a superpower, it would be mind reading.

Quote: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi

Anthem: Blame It – Jamie Foxx & T-Pain

Year in SDMT: 2nd

Thomasina Brown

Thomasina Brown (she/her) is a sophomore from Nixa, Missouri, double-majoring in Philosophy and Political Science with a certificate in Justice Studies. She’s on the e-board for both PPGen and Qmunity at ASU. Thomasina hopes to practice law but hasn’t decided what kind yet. This semester, she’s looking forward to meeting new members and growing closer to her team. She loves Palatschinke (a Central European crepe), The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and is an INFJ-T. She hates the smell of new cars but loves her dirty chai. Something surprising? She was her high school’s bowling team captain. Her guilty pleasure is falling asleep to Friends every night, and her dream superpower would be the ability to speak every language.

Quote: “I had a painting teacher once tell me that the truth is the truth, even if no one believes it, and a lie is a lie, even if everyone believes it.”

Anthem: You’re Gonna Go Far – Noah Kahan

Year in SDMT: 2nd

Sydney Ferguson

Sydney Ferguson (she/they) is a sophomore from Las Vegas, Nevada, majoring in Communication. They love journaling, meditating, and unwinding with music. Sydney is still figuring out exactly where their career will take them but is excited to be part of SDMT’s close-knit community this semester. A Capricorn and INFJ-T, they love Chinese barbecue pork buns, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and Doctor Who. Their unpopular opinion? Tap water is perfectly fine to drink. Something surprising? They’re a really good whistler and even played saxophone in middle school. They don’t drink coffee often but never turn down an iced matcha latte. Sydney’s guilty pleasure is Panic! at the Disco’s early albums, and if they could have a superpower, it would be the ability to stop time.

Quote: “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” — Oscar Wilde

Anthem: Let It Be – The Beatles

Year in SDMT: 1st

Atharva Goel

Atharva Goel (he/him) is a sophomore from Phoenix, Arizona, double majoring in Computer Science and Business. When he’s not coding, Atharva works at Honeywell, plays guitar, and spends time with his family. He hopes to become a software engineer and is most excited this semester to compete with his friends and take SDMT to nationals again. His favorite mock trial memory is the ORCS closing ceremonies. Atharva loves paneer in any form, jams out to Bruno Mars when he needs a pick-me-up, and firmly believes boba is seriously overrated. Something you might not know about him: he plays both the saxophone and guitar. His guilty pleasure is food in all forms—chips, ice cream, cake, you name it. He’d pick time control as his superpower, Dr. Strange–style.

Quote: “Make your life one worth telling stories about.”

Anthem:The Lazy Song – Bruno Mars

Year in SDMT: 2nd

Isheeta Gore

Isheeta Gore (she/her) is a sophomore from Phoenix studying Forensic Psychology with a minor in Chinese. Outside of class, she loves exploring coffee shops and hanging out with friends. Isheeta is working toward becoming a defense attorney for juveniles and is excited this semester to meet all the newbies and watch the team grow. A Leo and ESFJ, she swears by dumplings and chaat, and she’ll die on the hill that ketchup is overrated. Something you wouldn’t guess? She once appeared on national television on Wheel of Fortune. Her go-to coffee shop order is a Burnt Sugar Oat Latte, though she admits she tends to start creative projects without always finishing them. If she had a superpower, she’d pick pausing time and teleporting anywhere.

Quote: “You can either experience the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The choice is yours.”

Anthem: Born to Be Alive – Bea and Her Business

Year in SDMT: 2nd

Abbey Hicks

Abbey Hicks (she/her) is a sophomore from Scottsdale, Arizona studying Elementary Education. Outside of classes, Abbey works as a lifeguard and swim instructor. Her career goal is to become an elementary school teacher. This semester, she’s most excited about having fun with her friends and meeting new people. A fan of Criminal Minds, Pride and Prejudice, and The Life List, Abbey also swears by fried chicken as her favorite comfort food. With the bold claim that country music is the best type of music, she adds her own flair to team conversations. Her favorite mock memory is team gold’s powwow the Friday night before ORCs. Something surprising about Abbey is that she became a lifeguard only a year after learning how to swim. Powered by brown sugar oatmilk shaken espressos and a guilty pleasure of listening to the same song on repeat for days, Abbey is ready to jump into competitions this year. If she could have any superpower, it would be the ability to read minds.

Quote: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Anthem: “Life Changes” – Thomas Rhett

Year in SDMT: 2nd

Aanya Jain

Aanya Jain (she/her) is a sophomore from Peoria, AZ studying biological sciences. When she’s not in class, Aanya is a member of a competitive dance team! Her interests for her career lie in medicinal law, but she wants to further research the legal field to find a specialty that fits her interests. This semester, Aanya cannot wait to meet everyone on the team and compete. Her favorite show is “Gossip Girl,” which she says is the perfect show to binge watch. As a Gemini and a Slytherin, Aanya loves to get the most out of her day, which is why she argues that early mornings are the best time of day. Her favorite food is frozen yogurt. Aanya is motivated by a fear of failure and fueled by pumpkin spiced chai lattes. Something you wouldn’t guess about Aanya is that she loves to horseback ride and has paraglided in three different countries. 

Quote: “Carpe diem. Seize the day. Make your lives extraordinary!”

Anthem: “Anything can happen” – Ellie Goulding

Year in SDMT: 2nd

Jerome Kau

Jerome Kau (he/him) is a sophomore from Queen Creek majoring in Business Law. Outside of SDMT, he enjoys thrifting, going to the gym, practicing karate, and outrigger paddling. Jerome hopes to become a corporate lawyer and is looking forward to traveling and competing with the team this semester. A fan of 2 Fast 2 Furious and Spam musubi, he’s motivated by proving people wrong when they underestimate him. He’ll die on the hill that Samsung is better than Apple and can literally break bricks with his hands. His guilty pleasure is eating an entire pizza while watching Danny Duncan videos. His go-to coffee order is a caramel frappuccino, and if he could have a superpower, he’d want to control probability itself.

Quote: “It doesn’t matter if you win by an inch or a mile, winning’s winning.” — The Fast and the Furious

Anthem: Hot Wings (I Wanna Party) – from Rio

Year in SDMT: 1st

Skylar Kulas

Skylar Kulas (she/her) is a sophomore from Chandler majoring in Philosophy (Politics, Morality & Law) with a minor in Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership. She works at a political organizing firm and plays in ASU’s concert band. Skylar plans on law school and a career in politics and is excited to get to know new members and grow her mock skills. Her favorite mock trial memory is winning a bid to ORCS last year with F-Team. A Sagittarius and INFP, she loves The Office, vegan food, and pasta. Her unpopular opinion? Dunkin’ coffee beats Starbucks. She’s secretly great at Pac-Man, orders an iced matcha latte, and would choose teleportation as her superpower.

Quote: “Progress over perfection.”

Anthem: august – Taylor Swift

Year in SDMT: 2nd

Mounika Mandhari

Mounika Mandhari (she/her) is a sophomore from Peoria majoring in Data Science. When she’s not in class, you’ll catch her watching reality TV, trying to cook, or sneaking in an extra nap. Mounika hopes to pursue a career in law—she’s loving litigation but is also curious about IP or data-privacy work. This semester, she’s excited to compete (and not be a freshman). Her favorite mock trial memories are overnight stays after tournament weekends and hitting the beach on the way back from California tourneys. A fan of Sherlock and Asian food—especially sushi and ramen—she admits she hates no-show socks with a passion. Something surprising? She’s really good at catching flies with her hands. Fueled by matcha lattes with brown sugar, her guilty pleasure is scrolling TikTok. If she could pick a superpower, it would be to stay awake on command.

Quote: “A page, turning, is a wing lifted with no twin, and therefore no flight. And yet we are moved.” — Ocean Vuong

Anthem: Girl, so Confusing – Charli XCX

Year in SDMT: 2nd

Melissa Nowacki

Melissa Nowacki (she/her) is a sophomore from Chandler majoring in Business Law. Outside of SDMT, she’s active in Kappa Alpha Pi, a pre-law and government fraternity, where she serves as VP of Programming, and she works as a concierge at an assisted living facility. Melissa hopes to attend law school and eventually practice criminal law. This semester, she’s excited to meet more people and sharpen her trial skills. Her favorite mock trial memory is the car rides to and from tournaments. She’s a Pisces who loves Italian food, Legally Blonde, and The Summer I Turned Pretty. Her go-to drink is a blonde vanilla latte, her guilty pleasure is Dr. Pepper with M&Ms, and her unpopular opinion is “Books > Movies.” If she had a superpower, she’d choose invisibility.

Quote: “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” — Peter Drucker

Anthem: Life Is a Highway – Tom Cochrane

Year in SDMT: 2nd

Naeha Ravikumar

Naeha Ravikumar (she/her) is a sophomore from Chandler double-majoring in Philosophy (Morality, Politics, and Law) and Spanish, with a Cross-Sector Leadership certificate. She’s part of the Next Generation Service Corps, coaches high school mock trial, and loves to sing and dance to K-pop. Naeha knows she wants to be a trial advocate in the courtroom (prosecution or defense) and is excited to learn new techniques with new teammates. Her favorite mock trial memory is making history with her F-Team by earning a bid to ORCS. She’s an Aries and ENTJ who insists mint chocolate chip does not taste like toothpaste. Her go-to is a caramel frappuccino, her guilty pleasure is Korean BBQ, and if she could teleport, her first stop would be a BTS concert.

Quote: “Even when I fall and hurt myself, I keep running towards my dream.” — BTS

Anthem: What It Sounds Like – HUNTR/X

Year in SDMT: 2nd

Finnegan Roffler

Finnegan Roffler (he/him) is a sophomore from Chandler majoring in Political Science with a minor in Philosophy. Outside of SDMT, he works part-time at a bowling alley and arcade called Round One and judges speech and debate tournaments on the weekends. Finnegan plans to pursue law but hasn’t settled on a specific path yet. This semester, he’s eager to rejoin the competitive speaking world and experience the thrill of tournaments again. He’s a fan of The Grand Budapest Hotel, Ethiopian food, and sipping black coffee—or better yet, a late-night pot of tea. His guilty pleasure is winding down with tea before bed, and his unpopular opinion is that public parking around campus should be completely free. Something surprising? Ask him what number he’s thinking of—he swears he’ll stump you. If he could have a superpower, he’d choose heat vision.

Quote: (He’s still choosing one!)

Anthem:Last Train to London – Electric Light Orchestra

Year in SDMT: 1st

Jenna Skavdahl

Jenna Skavdahl (she/her) is a sophomore from Ripon, California, studying Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership with a certificate in Cross-Sector Leadership. She serves as the Civic Engagement Mission Team Leader for the Next Generation Service Corps, works as a Devils’ Advocate Tour Guide, and grades courses on campus. Jenna hopes to become a lawyer and eventually a judge. This semester, she’s excited to meet new people and travel with the team. A Taurus who loves The Parent Trap, The Poisonwood Bible, and Friends, she swears chocolate cake is the perfect dessert. Her unpopular opinion? Disneyland isn’t that great. Something surprising—she’s been to all 50 states. Jenna runs on vanilla cold brews, has a soft spot for Reese’s peanut butter cups, and dreams of flying as her superpower.

Quote: “Life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans.” — John Lennon

Anthem:New Romantics – Taylor Swift

Year in SDMT: 1st

Aris Vakanas

Aris Vakanas (he/him) is a sophomore from Tempe, double majoring in Political Science and Urban Planning. He dreams of one day arguing a case before the Supreme Court—and maybe even serving on it someday—a goal that fuels his dedication to mock trial. Aris is also an artist and a writer, bringing creativity into everything he does. This semester, he’s looking forward to learning more about the trial process and meeting new people on the team. A fan of AJR and Panic! at the Disco, Aris often turns to music for inspiration. He loves katsu curry, swears by chocolate milk over coffee, and admits his guilty pleasure is blasting Claire Rosinkranz’s girly pop songs. If he could pick a superpower, it would definitely be super speed.

Quote: “I am not fit for this office and never should have been here.” – Warren G. Harding

Anthem:Inertia – AJR / That Green Gentleman – Panic! at the Disco

Year in SDMT: 1st

Ally Valletta

Ally Valletta (she/her) is a sophomore from Phoenix, majoring in Justice Studies and minoring in Dance. Ally hopes to go into wrongful convictions at work or family law, though she’s open to other paths. She loves surfing at Lake Pleasant and spending time outdoors, but she’s equally happy curling up with a good Italian dinner. This semester, she’s looking forward to being part of a team that feels like family. Ally is a huge fan of The Price is Right, has been doing dance for years, and can often be found sipping a chai latte with a shot of espresso. She’s motivated, a little quirky, and always full of enthusiasm. If she could have a superpower, she’d choose teleportation, because who doesn’t hate traffic?

Quote: “Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.” – Harper Lee

Anthem: Pull the Plug – Ashe

Year in SDMT: 1st