STU Trial Team Wins 2026 National Online Championship Title
By Bruno Diaz:
St. Thomas University College of Law is celebrating another standout performance after its Trial Team competed this past weekend in the 2026 Online National Championship, delivering an extraordinary showing on the national stage.
STU sent four teams to compete across two divisions, and the results reflected the depth, talent, and preparation of the program. After the preliminary rounds, Andrea Garcia-Baerga (3L) and Samantha Swartz (2L) each earned Best Advocate honors, while three STU teams advanced to the semifinals.
From there, the momentum only grew stronger.
Following the semifinal rounds, two STU Law teams advanced to the championship round, facing Drexel University School of Law and Cumberland School of Law, respectively. In one of the two final-round matchups, Team 159, composed of Andrea Garcia-Baerga (3L) and Natalie Dominguez (3L), won its Division Championship and was crowned National Champion.
STU’s other teams also delivered an impressive performance throughout the competition:
Team 120: Angelique Crespo (2L) and Rhod Belizaire (3L), Finalist
Team 126: Morgan Chudd (2L) and Samantha Swartz (2L), Semifinalist
Team 151: Yaileen Valdes (3L) and Sophie De Armas (3L)
The championship team and the program’s overall success were guided by an outstanding group of alumni coaches: Conor Sloan (’23), Ernesto Leo (’24), Alyssa Levy (’25), and Jessica Silva (’24).
The Online National Championship was launched by Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, and UCLA School of Law to create additional, affordable trial competition opportunities for law students. According to the competition organizers, each two-student team competes with one student serving as prosecutor and the other as defense attorney, with teams guaranteed multiple preliminary-round trials before advancing to playoff rounds.
That format makes STU’s success even more impressive. Excelling in a competition designed to test advocacy, strategy, adaptability, and courtroom presence, STU Law proved they can compete with the very best in the nation.
The remarkable weekend was another proud chapter for St. Thomas University College of Law’s advocacy program. From individual honors to semifinal appearances, finalist recognition, and a National Championship, STU’s Trial Team demonstrated excellence at every level and brought home a result worthy of celebration.