Empire Mainstay Captures National Championship
MBA at the NHSMTC, May, 2025
Coaches & students credit Empire for its role in their success
PHOENIX, AZ. In a historic triumph for both their school and their decades old mock trial program, Montgomery Bell Academy (MBA) has claimed its first-ever National High School Mock Trial Championship. Long known as a fierce competitor at Empire Mock Trial, MBA credits much of its success as elite competitors from the preparation required by attending Empire competitions.
“This championship is the result of decades of effort, but the turning point came when we started competing at Empire,” said Coach Wade Cowan, who has led MBA’s mock trial program for 33 of his 41 years coaching. “Empire gave our students the experience, confidence, and competitive edge we needed to reach this moment.”
MBA’s journey to the top was far from overnight. After runner-up finishes at the Tennessee State Finals in 1990, 1992, 2013, 2021, and 2024, the breakthrough finally came in 2025. Their foundation? A decision in 2015 to participate in the inaugural Empire Atlanta.
“When I first learned of the inaugural Empire Atlanta in 2015, I knew we had to go,” Cowan recalled. “We were a young team needing experience. After that first Empire, we won back-to-back state titles. Ever since then, we’ve been regulars. I credit the experience gained from Empire with putting our team in position to win the national championship this year.”
Over the past decade, MBA has become one of Empire’s most successful and consistent programs, capturing five Empire titles, the second most in the Empire’s history. Their ability to compete (and win) on high-stakes stages is no accident.
Coach Tracy Hancock, who joined MBA in 2019 after coaching at Vanderbilt and Rockhurst, pointed to Empire’s Windy City Challenge in 2023 as a defining moment:
“The JV structure allowed us to send some 'B teamers' who might not have otherwise competed that Fall. That experience paid off. Five of the six competitors on our national championship squad were part of that Windy City Challenge championship team.”
By the time MBA stepped into the national final round in 2025, they were more than prepared, they were seasoned. Their confidence was rooted in years of high-level preparation, much of it under the bright lights of Empire.
Kavneer Majhail (MBA ’25, Dartmouth ’29) said the fall competitions sharpened his instincts:
“The Empire experience was invaluable to my development as an attorney. Without it, I would have entered nationals with a very different—and far less accurate—perspective on what to expect.”
For the students, the championship was not just about the result but the journey. Kenny Royer (MBA ’25, Amherst ’29) emphasized the lifelong bonds built through the program:
“The last four years of mock trial were some of the best years of my life. None of the victories would have meant nearly as much if not shared with my teammates and, more importantly, my friends.”
Coach Hancock closed with a reflection on what the title means for the program:
“MBA’s journey to the national title feels like a dream come true. It took a lot of hard work and sacrifice from a lot of people. I’m grateful to the students, our coaching team—including Wade Cowan and Marisa Combs-Smith—and the incredible community of parents, alumni, and friends who supported us every step of the way.”
As a fixture in the Empire Mock Trial community for over a decade, MBA’s story is a testament to the competition’s lasting impact on student advocacy, growth, and excellence. Their title is not just a victory for the school—but a celebration of what happens when preparation meets opportunity on the national stage.
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