A lot of background knowledge or a strength in a certain academic area has its perks. This certain activity requires each teammate to come with a positive attitude, a need to compete and a thinking cap.
The annual EGHS Scholastic Bowl had its first informational meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 13 in room 217 for students interested in competing. There were buzzers set up on the desks, like some sort of game show. But think of it as a sport for the mind.
Scholastic Bowl, an IHSA activity, is a competitive academic series of tournaments testing one’s knowledge in math, history, geography, science, art, literature, music and even sports. Ever see Jeopardy? It’s sort of like that.
After Steve Prorak’s retirement at the end of the 2011-2012 school year, chemistry teacher Dick Trent became the new coach of the varsity Scholastic Bowl team. Susan Montemayor remains the freshman and sophomore coach.
For those students who are fresh to the whole ideal, let’s get down to just the bare basics. Basically, there are two branches of teams within the entire body: the frosh/soph team and the varsity team.
Each team competes in squads, let’s say, of five students at a time. A reader reads a question, revolving around a certain subject. If the team it’s directed to buzzes in and answers correctly, then the game can move on. If they answer incorrectly, the question bounces to the opposing team. If the opposing team answers it correctly, they then receive a bonus question that has three parts to it. The usual Scholastic Bowl tournaments are the MSL tournaments, in which the D214 schools compete within their league. The state tournament, ultimately the bigger of the two, takes place less frequently and is designed for schools across the state to compete. The ultimate goal is to score the most points.
For students with previous Scholastic Bowl experience, there were a few rule changes made from the last competition year. First of all, the blurting out of answers without recognition does not penalize the team anymore. Also, bonus questions did not have three parts to it last year. Some may see it as an improvement.
Even though the informational meeting has passed, students who were unable to attend or are interested in Scholastic Bowl are still welcome to participate. Practices are Tuesdays and Thursdays during preseason, and afterwards they will take place only once a week. Varsity members (juniors, seniors, or anyone who is needed) meet in room 217. Frosh/soph (limited to just freshmen or sophomores) meet in room 237. There is a $50 co-curricular fee, but it only needs to be payed once. As in if, a student has already payed the fee for another activity, they do not have to pay it again.
The Scholastic Bowl’s first MSL conference is on Dec. 1 at Conant High School. For freshman Eddie Almaraz, it’s an opportunity for learning and friendly competition.
“I’d like to get the chance to know people and have fun doing it,” Almaraz said.
By: Morgan Loxely