Texas Tech School of Law Team Takes State Championship
July 8, 2008
By: Leslie Cranford
Retiring Law School Team Coach Ices the Cake on his Incredible Legacy
The Texas Tech University School of Law Appellate Advocacy Team has won the State
Moot Court Competition Championship at the Texas State Bar Convention in Houston,
held June 24-26.
In his last competition as coach of the appellate team, retiring legendary coach
Don Hunt added to his legacy by coaching the team to the win in what is otherwise
known as the Texas Law School Super Bowl. Hunt taught appellate advocacy at Texas
Tech from 1974-2004, after which he limited his involvement to coaching the national
appellate advocacy teams. He also was coach of the national trial teams for 30 years.
Walter Huffman, dean of the Texas Tech law school, fielded exceptional comments from
the competition's judges.
"The final round in the competition is traditionally judged by the justices of the
Texas Supreme Court," Huffman said. "They told me afterward that they have never
seen a more intense and well-argued final round - supported by outstanding written
briefs on both sides. It goes without saying that our talented team delivered an
extraordinary performance under extraordinary pressure, and that demonstrated skill
and backbone will certainly stand them in good stead in their legal careers."
The winning team was made up of Graigory Fancher of Idalou, and Erin Welch, of Alvarado,
both May 2008 graduates; Matthew Luensmann, a third-year law student from Saint Hedwig;
and Charles Pelowski, a second-year law student from Abilene.
"The entire Texas Tech law family joins me in extending congratulations to our Moot
Court team members for representing themselves and Texas Tech Law so extremely well
in this important and prestigious competition," Huffman said, "and especially for
presenting Coach Hunt with a storybook ending to his magnificent career."
CONTACT: Casey Carson, director of alumni relations, Texas Tech University School
of Law, (806) 742-3990, ext. 315 or casey.carson@ttu.edu