Debate Kids Make Better Mockers
This blog post was written by sophomore Emersen Kolb for the “Why MMT?” series in Fall of 2023.
I love trophies. As someone who grew up playing sports and competing in spelling bees and who turned into a nationally-ranked competitor in multiple debate forums, there is nothing that calls out to me more than a shiny, gold-painted piece of plastic: a sentimental souvenir of your hard work, if you can earn it. I think that’s why, in spite of the fact that I hadn’t given more than a few seconds of thought to mock trial in the entirety of my high school years, I walked up to the mock trial table in the student center during my first week at college. They had one of the biggest trophies I’d ever seen holding down their emailing list as a paperweight.
Even as I was jotting my name down on that emailing list, I had no idea the rollercoaster ride I was about to go on. The students working the table were extremely friendly - I would learn later that the two mockers I spoke to that day were some of the program’s finest, even though you’d never guess it from the kindness and humility they showed me, as a know-nothing rookie - but I didn’t have any real intention of joining the program. After all, I was a debate kid, and being a debate kid was and is a real badge of pride to me. I knew where I belonged. Not knowing anyone, yet, at Miami, I went to mock trial callout meetings just to have something to occupy my evenings with, and to connect with the students in my political science classes that also showed interest. I tried out knowing that, if I didn’t make it, I would happily join the debate team, as had always been my intention.
That all changed when I was accepted into the program. After my fantastic experience as a high school debater, I was certain nothing else could be more fulfilling. I was completely wrong. Mock trial has been everything that debate was to me and more, and as our program grows and improves with each passing year, it’s my firm belief that debate kids will be the fertilizer of a great roster going forward. If you’re a debater, then you already know what I’ve been annoying my MMT teammates with by telling them the entire past year: debate kids do better. And, if you’re a debate kid, you should help me prove this to them by trying out for the program in the fall. In this blog post, I’ve described all the reasons why the Mockhawks of Miami need competitors like you, and why you might need the Mockhawks of Miami more than you think.
WHY MIAMI MOCK TRIAL NEEDS DEBATERS
Though I didn’t know this when I committed to Miami University or even when I joined the program, Miami is actually home to a powerhouse of a mock trial team. This comes in part from a tradition of excellence and a meticulous coaching staff that always drives and supports us to success. Undeniably, though, it also comes from the endless hours we competitors pour into preparation, and the grit and flexibility we put on display in the courtroom. You won’t find a debate kid that doesn’t have these qualities in spades.
Unlike speech or theater kids, debate kids are comfortable without the constraints of a script, and are happy to go head-to-head and think on their feet on a crossfire. Similarly, unlike the limited-prep competitors of the high school circuits, debate kids also know how to format and write speeches long in advance, and improve them continually using the feedback earned from competition. It’s been said that mock trial is “structured improv.” Debaters excel within structure, and they also shine when given the chance to improv. Even if you have no familiarity at all with the discipline of mock, the skill set you’ve already developed is uniquely suited to success at counsel table or on the witness stand.
Miami Mock Trial is every bit as particular as it is prestigious, as well. I was told at recruitment tables that the coaches actually favor competitors that come in without mock experience, because they can work with a blank slate and don’t have to “reteach” bad habits from high school mock. I have found this to be true. Our methods are sometimes highly specific and debaters will learn them, unhindered by preconceived notions of what mock is.
WHY DEBATERS NEED MIAMI MOCK TRIAL
The program doesn’t just need you. You need the program.
At the end of the day, what really made debate the defining experience of my high school career is the fact that it was fun. I like having consistent work that I know how to do well. I like learning. I like winning. I like having a close group of great people I get to see every day and knowing that we are all in it together. I liked knowing that I belonged to one of the most competitive debate programs in the state and one of the most supportive and closely-knit social groups of my life.
Miami Mock Trial will give you that exact same high. Just like your debate experience will ease your transition into the meta of mock, joining the program will ease your transition into college life. MMT gave me a place to be every Monday and Wednesday night, with people who were excited to get to know me and bring me along. Like I was promised they would, Monday and Wednesday evenings slowly turned into shared lunches, weekends in out-of-state cities, and late nights studying together. Mock turned Oxford from an unfamiliar town that intimidated an out-of-state freshman into a second home and an exciting new adventure. I know what made me choose debate, and it turns out, I chose mock trial for all the same reasons. It’s a choice that will suit any incoming freshman with an appetite for competition and an open heart for new friends.