Two teams of Gonzaga University Law School students competed successfully at the national Tax Moot Court competition, March 1-2, in Buffalo, NY. Pictured from left: Front: Elizabeth Arwood, Sarah Tuthill, Shannon Fowler, and Ryan Armentrout. Back: Co-coach Chris Crago, Adam Baird, and Tyson Dobbs.

Two teams of GU Law students worked feverishly for 14 days, preparing themselves for the national Tax Moot Court competition held the weekend of March 1-2 in Buffalo, NY.

The team of Adam Baird, Tyson Dobbs, and Sarah Tuthill won First Place Best Brief in the nation, and Third Place overall.

“In what had to be the quickest turn-around time from the brief due date to the oral competition, these teams worked literally night and day to be prepared for the competition,” said coach and professor Ann Murphy.

Their efforts paid off.

The team of Adam Baird, Tyson Dobbs, and Sarah Tuthill won First Place Best Brief in the nation, and Third Place overall.

They went down only to the competition’s eventual winner, which bested the GU team in the semi-final rounds.

Every judge but one awarded the team excellent scores in that round, Murphy said.

“Tyson Dobbs received a perfect score from the IRS Chief Counsel,” she said.

The second team, comprising Ryan Armentrout, Elizabeth Arwood, and Shannon Fowler, lost only one round in the regular competition.

Armentrout was especially effective, said co-coach Chris Crago, a Winston Cashatt Associate Attorney and GU Law graduate. He accompanied the team to Buffalo.

“During his third round, his presentation was immaculate,” Crago said. “I would equate it to watching Tiger Woods play golf."

“I can't tell you how proud Chris Crago and I are of our two teams,” Murphy said. “I have never in eight years at the Gonzaga University School of Law seen six individuals work so well together -- truly the perfect "team.”