(Helena, MT) – Carroll College Moot Court competitors Kate Wilkins, a junior from Holladay, Utah, and Reagan Long, a junior from Livingston, Montana, have earned a spot in the preliminary round of the American Moot Court Association (AMCA) National Tournament following an impressive performance at the Mooting at Knight Regional Tournament, held November 6–7, 2026, at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.
Competing in their second season together, Wilkins and Long delivered a standout performance, losing just one ballot on their way to the quarterfinals. Their tournament run ended in a closely contested match against one of the nation's top moot court programs. Their quarterfinal finish secured the pair a place in the Davis Derby Preliminary Round of the National Tournament in Davis, California, next spring, where they will compete against other regional qualifiers.
Wilkins also earned individual recognition as a Top Orator, ranking 14th among 64 competitors at the tournament.
"This past weekend was incredible!" said Wilkins. "Reagan and I are thrilled that we are advancing to the preliminary round of the national tournament. We are so grateful for all the support and belief Carroll has in us!"
"Competing in Orlando after months of preparation was incredibly rewarding!" said Long. "The opportunity to argue against students from around the country in a mock courtroom has been a great way to grow in appellate advocacy. Advancing wouldn't have been possible without the support from our fellow team members, legal professionals, and the Carroll College community who have made Moot Court possible!"
The achievement marks an exciting milestone for Carroll's Moot Court program, which was relaunched last year following a seven-year hiatus. Now in its second season, the program is already demonstrating its competitive strength while providing students with valuable opportunities to develop their legal reasoning, public speaking, and appellate advocacy skills.
Moot Court Coach Kristine Kuenzli expressed pride in the team's early success and the dedication of its student competitors as the program continues to grow.
With their strong regional showing, Wilkins and Long will now turn their attention to preparing for the national preliminary round next spring, building on the momentum of an impressive start to Carroll's 2026–27 competition season.
