For the fifth year in a row, Iona College Mock Trial is headed to the National Championships. But this trip is a little bit sweeter.

On Feb. 26, the mock trial team won the Regional Championships and earned a chance to compete in the national qualifying tournament: Opening Round Championship, or ORCs. While the team has qualified for ORCs for the past five years, this is the first time they have won the Regional Championship.

“It was our best performance by far this year,” said Coach Adam Detsky. Four team members, juniors Kimberleigh Costanzo and Anastasia Nitis and sophomores Ron Distante and Joshua Myree, won individual awards as well.

The season started well at the Columbia University School of Law Tournament in December. Detsky said, “We went in as the 17th ranked out of 20 teams and placed third.” This was the team’s best placement at this tournament.

The team continued to do well in the other three competitions this season. At the Yale University tournament, the team placed sixth. This was their second best placement. They also received their first 140-point ballot, a perfect score.

The team tied for second at the Fordham University tournament, losing to New York University, who is currently ranked second in the nation.

“We had three attorneys win individual awards when only eight were given,” said Detsky. Juniors Mary Ann Gallucci, Nitis and Costanzo were recognized as the best attorneys at the competition; Costanzo and Nitis won for best defense attorneys, and Gallucci was awarded the best prosecutor. The team’s last regular season tournament was held at Georgetown University, where they placed seventh.

Consistency has been a strong point for the team this year.

Detsky said, “This year’s team is a team where any one of the eight of them is able to win an individual award.” Disante was recognized as All-Region attorney, and Myree won an award for being one of the best witnesses in the Regional competition.

“We’re better as far as having unity,” said Gallucci, the team’s co-captain. “We all want the same thing.” Nitis, the other co-captain, agreed: “We have a lot of talent.”

In addition to team consistency, Costanzo, Gallucci and Nitis have been major assets for the team.

Detsky said, “They are the most formidable bench we’ve ever had.” The three have combined to win nine individual awards this year, some in the same competitions.

This is quite a feat. Nitis said, “The judge [always says] ‘I think you were number one or number two in every single round’ and we’re ranked against each other.” Costanzo, Gallucci and Nitis’ junior status deems well for the team’s success next year.

The team has qualified for ORCs before, but never for the final championship round. They hope to change that this year. Detsky said, “We have as good a chance as any team in the country.” There will be challenges, however.

“It’s not going to be a walk in the park,” said Gallucci. Only the top six teams in the competition move on to the National Championships. Despite the odds, Costanzo said, “This is the year for it.”