At Cromer Babb and Porter, we believe in fostering growth both inside and outside the courtroom. Attorney Chance Sturup, one of our talented team members, exemplifies this commitment through his role as a coach for the University of South Carolina’s undergraduate trial advocacy team. This past July, Chance had the opportunity to travel to Los Angeles for a remarkable competition, coaching student Naomi Uchida in a prestigious tournament known as “The Gauntlet.”

The Gauntlet, co-sponsored by UCLA Law and UChicago, brings together the nation’s top 16 student competitors in an intense, fast-paced environment. Naomi was the only student to go undefeated through the preliminary rounds, ultimately finishing as the 4th best competitor in the country. It’s a highly competitive tournament with a unique challenge—students are given case materials just 10 days in advance and must prepare to present testimony for eight different witnesses. These witnesses range from experts and victims to law enforcement and company representatives, making it one of the toughest trial advocacy challenges in the country.

Naomi’s success is no small feat, as she competed against students from universities like Harvard, Northwestern, Princeton, and more. Her performance speaks volumes about her dedication and talent, as well as the strong mentorship from Chance. Watching her rise to the top and navigate such a rigorous competition was a proud moment for all of us at Cromer Babb and Porter.

Chance’s involvement in coaching and teaching is not only a testament to his own commitment to legal education but also an example of the positive impact we strive to make in the community. Through his efforts, future leaders in the legal field are gaining invaluable skills, and we’re honored to have him as part of our team.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to support and celebrate our team’s contributions to both the legal profession and the next generation of advocates.

Pictured is Naomi Uchida and her second-chair for the tournament, Dylan Peddemors. Each student is allowed a coach and a second-chair student competitor to assist.