Stellar students shine at Scholar Challenge
Knowing facts both common and obscure on topics ranging from 19th century American literature and art to physics, geography, and world events were essential for students who competed Jan. 28 at New Philadelphia High School for the ECOL/NPHS Scholar Challenge Tournament. Students from Cambridge, Claymont, Coshocton, Dover, Garaway, Indian Valley, Marietta, New Philadelphia, Ridgewood, River View, Rosecrans, Sandy Valley, Strasburg, and Zanesville high schools came together with their 20 teams for a match-up based on general knowledge.
The tournament matched two teams at a time, each with four contestants, in a room with a reader, a judge, timekeepers, and scorekeepers. Teams were competing for the opportunity to move on to the Regional Academic Challenge competition in April.
“We go over questions before the tournament, particularly old questions from old tournaments written by (Kent State professor) Dan Fuller, so we get an idea of how he wrote before,” said Strasburg coach Dan Jones.
Taylor Keppler, a Strasburg senior, is enjoying her first year on the team. “I get more of the pop culture questions,” she said. “But I don’t know the history ones.”
Angela Lawver, of the Dover team, is a fourth-year team member. “My specialty is life sciences and physical science, along with some religious aspects,” said Lawver. “Anything sports related, I cringe.”
“Academic Challenge helps grow my knowledge. I love Jeopardy, so this is really a good fit for me. It’s also good preparation for college,” commented Dover team captain Rachel Edsall, who noted that her best categories are music, math, and “some history. I am not a world politics person. That’s Tony’s area.” She pointed to Tony Peterson, sitting across the table.
Tony is a sophomore, and admits he depends on newspapers, Newsweek, and CNN, MSNBC and Fox news, and National Public Radio for his information. “It’s good to see what different people are reporting, because nobody is going to give you a completely unbiased view.”
“There are only five of us, but we are few and mighty,” exclaimed Joan Coates, Sandy Valley coach. “This is a very well run tournament.”
“We have about 18 students who came out, and I’d like to get even more involved,” said host New Philadelphia coach Scott Houmard. “We will also be hosting the Tri-County Academic Challenge League tournament, which is primarily Stark County, and then we are the only one from Tuscarawas County. They are coming down on Feb. 6, and so we will be competing again, and hoping to win.
“The kids know who has the different strengths, and they try to sub in strategically depending on the categories. The students who read seem to do better, and are really stellar. You gain a lot of knowledge from reading, and we need to encourage that more and more in society. Some students have knowledge of all the areas, but it is nice to see the ones who excel in specific areas. Their strengths play off each other.”
“Mathematics and physics are my strong points. I check out when the category is literature,” admitted Joe Zaleski of Dover.
“I specialize in everything generally. I’ve got lots and lots of esoteric knowledge from everywhere,” said New Philadelphia’s Corwin Hartz-Coutts. “I’ve got an even chance of knowing any answer to any question outside of sports, which I hate so very, very much.”
“I like the multi-question, lightning round, where it’s random knowledge. I also like American government, except when it’s about presidential cabinet members, because they change all the time,” teammate Emma Mulvaney noted.
“My favorite categories are life science and American literature,” added Taylor Willis, who nailed author questions about the Bronte sisters and Jane Austin.
Houmard deemed the tournament a success, saying, “We are doing well, and we love to see the kids come out for something academic, and show what they know academic-wise.”
Results:
ECOL title three-way tie: Rosecrans, New Philadelphia, and Dover, all 8-1
1st in third floor bracket: Sandy Valley, 9-0
First team honors: Tony Peterson of Dover, Alex Wortman of New Philadelphia, and Brian Ricketts and Chris Dow of Rosecrans.
Overall MVP: Wortman
The tournament matched two teams at a time, each with four contestants, in a room with a reader, a judge, timekeepers, and scorekeepers. Teams were competing for the opportunity to move on to the Regional Academic Challenge competition in April.
“We go over questions before the tournament, particularly old questions from old tournaments written by (Kent State professor) Dan Fuller, so we get an idea of how he wrote before,” said Strasburg coach Dan Jones.
Taylor Keppler, a Strasburg senior, is enjoying her first year on the team. “I get more of the pop culture questions,” she said. “But I don’t know the history ones.”
Angela Lawver, of the Dover team, is a fourth-year team member. “My specialty is life sciences and physical science, along with some religious aspects,” said Lawver. “Anything sports related, I cringe.”
“Academic Challenge helps grow my knowledge. I love Jeopardy, so this is really a good fit for me. It’s also good preparation for college,” commented Dover team captain Rachel Edsall, who noted that her best categories are music, math, and “some history. I am not a world politics person. That’s Tony’s area.” She pointed to Tony Peterson, sitting across the table.
Tony is a sophomore, and admits he depends on newspapers, Newsweek, and CNN, MSNBC and Fox news, and National Public Radio for his information. “It’s good to see what different people are reporting, because nobody is going to give you a completely unbiased view.”
“There are only five of us, but we are few and mighty,” exclaimed Joan Coates, Sandy Valley coach. “This is a very well run tournament.”
“We have about 18 students who came out, and I’d like to get even more involved,” said host New Philadelphia coach Scott Houmard. “We will also be hosting the Tri-County Academic Challenge League tournament, which is primarily Stark County, and then we are the only one from Tuscarawas County. They are coming down on Feb. 6, and so we will be competing again, and hoping to win.
“The kids know who has the different strengths, and they try to sub in strategically depending on the categories. The students who read seem to do better, and are really stellar. You gain a lot of knowledge from reading, and we need to encourage that more and more in society. Some students have knowledge of all the areas, but it is nice to see the ones who excel in specific areas. Their strengths play off each other.”
“Mathematics and physics are my strong points. I check out when the category is literature,” admitted Joe Zaleski of Dover.
“I specialize in everything generally. I’ve got lots and lots of esoteric knowledge from everywhere,” said New Philadelphia’s Corwin Hartz-Coutts. “I’ve got an even chance of knowing any answer to any question outside of sports, which I hate so very, very much.”
“I like the multi-question, lightning round, where it’s random knowledge. I also like American government, except when it’s about presidential cabinet members, because they change all the time,” teammate Emma Mulvaney noted.
“My favorite categories are life science and American literature,” added Taylor Willis, who nailed author questions about the Bronte sisters and Jane Austin.
Houmard deemed the tournament a success, saying, “We are doing well, and we love to see the kids come out for something academic, and show what they know academic-wise.”
Results:
ECOL title three-way tie: Rosecrans, New Philadelphia, and Dover, all 8-1
1st in third floor bracket: Sandy Valley, 9-0
First team honors: Tony Peterson of Dover, Alex Wortman of New Philadelphia, and Brian Ricketts and Chris Dow of Rosecrans.
Overall MVP: Wortman
Published: January 30, 2012
