The Ohio State mock trial team finished a busy and bittersweet weekend at the National Championship Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa, with a 6-2 record.

The team qualified for its first trip to the national stage last month after winning the Opening Round Championship Series with a perfect record.

The weekend was not a total loss, however, as Caitlin Hone, second-year in anthropology and political science, won an All-American Witness Award for OSU.

Although Hone’s award was the only accolade the team went home with, members said they still kept up high spirits after the losses and went home happy to have been a part of the national’s experience.

Katie Oberer, a third-year in communications and psychology, said despite the heavy competition from universities known for their mock trial programs, the team still performed exceptionally well.

“Every trial was hard-fought. We hung in every single round,” Oberer said. “Next year we’ll be a lot more prepared.”

Meagan Woodall, a third-year in Spanish and political science and the group’s president, said she feels that the team has now reached a new level of skill that will take them to the National Championship Tournament every year from now on.

“I think we’re going to see progress and see improvement,” Woodall said. “Within 10 years, we’ll be one of those perennial powerhouses that goes to the National Championship Tournament and always does well. I think we’re one of those teams to be on the lookout for.”

For five of the 10 members of the squad, this was the last tournament of their OSU career, as they are set to graduate this year.

Even for those students who won’t be graduating, the end to the season is a shock to the system.

“It’s a very strange experience to know it’s all over,” Oberer said. “It’s very surreal.”

The group will be holding an open house and seminars for interested future members April 29 and 30, and tryouts to become competition members will take place early in Fall Quarter, Woodall said.