27 Apr 2015 Teams from the 501 win state Quiz Bowl titles
The 501 boasts six of the seven high school teams that captured championships Saturday in Arkansas Quiz Bowl 2015.
Conway Christian, Conway, Morrilton and Sacred Heart high schools were among the state championship winners.
The Arkansas Governor’s Academic Competition celebrated its 30th year with the broadcast of “Arkansas Quiz Bowl 2015” on Saturday. A showcase for Arkansas high school students’ intellect, the Quiz Bowl state finals involved seven conferences for a total of 14 teams.
The Quiz Bowl matches are a celebration and recognition of scholarship. In a series of questions, players must display their knowledge of literature, math, science, history, art, music and economics. Winners of the state conference finals earn the opportunity to represent the Natural State in national tournaments. Scholarship money was also awarded.
Paula McKee of the Conway School District was named the senior high coach of the year. Rick Clow of Greenwood was named junior high coach of the year.
McKee, who has coached the Quiz Bowl team for over a decade, is quick to bring the focus back to her students. "Conway must have the greatest students and teachers in the world," she said. "The students are so hard working and dedicated that I just facilitate. They regularly give shout outs to teachers when we practice, as questions come up over curriculum that they’ve had. I just facilitate and encourage. The future looks bright because of students like these. I love them!"
Going into Saturday’s competition, the Conway team was without several starters because of conflicting schedules with the school’s musical production of "Footloose." But McKee wasn’t worried. "This is a young team and I had a deep bench. They have a lot of knowledge and can astound you at any time with what they know. I knew it would be fun no matter what."
The Conway High School team never trailed Fort Smith Southside in Saturday’s match. McKee said her players were outstanding. "We exceeded anything I could have dreamed of doing this year.”
This is the second time in recent history that Conway has made it to the Quiz Bowl Tournament finals.
The state final matches were broadcast from AETN studios.
The results and points scored:
1A
Sacred Heart – 260
Mt. Vernon-Enola – 150
2A
Conway Christian – 240
Hazen – 105
3A
Episcopal Collegiate – 370
Centerpoint – 240
4A
Subiaco Academy – 320
Hamburg – 170
5A
Morrilton – 255
L.R. Christian – 195
6A
Benton – 295
Russellville – 200
7A
Conway – 220
F.S. Southside – 200
The Most Valuable Players and High Point Player (when there is a student whose team played at the state tournament but did not make the top two teams whose average score exceeded that of the MVP):
1A – MVP Evan Hamling of Sacred Heart.
2A – MVP Samuel Harper of Hazen.
3A – MVP Alan May of Episcopal Collegiate.
4A – MVP Tyler Maxwell of Hamburg.
4A – Roy McKenzie of Prairie Grove, High Point Player.
5A – MVP Cooper Lair of Little Rock Christian.
6A – MVP Sam Bell of Benton.
7A – MVP Blake Larkin of Fort Smith Southside.
7A – Alvaro Aldana of Rogers, High Point Player.
Conway Christian team members were Wesley Oliver, Scott Austin, Jackson Quick, Alec Oldhe, Tyler Pelley, Ancil Lea, Ross Minner, Will Callaway and Marc Cochran. This is Conway Christian’s second championship in three years (2013 and 2015). Wesley Oliver and Jackson Quick were named all-state. Shawna Oliver is the coach.
Conway High team members were Megan Haase, Savannah Raup, Zelda Engler-Young, Jamie Guinee, Jack Lester, Matt Sweere, Jillian Tang, Bethany Starr, Tim Ablondi, Blaine Booher, Joe Coker, Tarek Essaw, Ben Coney, Peter Grant and Monica Choquette.
Morrilton team
members were Thomas Ragland, Jonathan Rankin, Baxter Yarbrough, Brett Harken, John Hopkins and Drew Patterson.
Sacred Heart team members were Sharon Duvall, Adam Cambiano, Shamus McGee, Evan Hamling, Cole Bottoms, Andrew Dunlap, Chloe Andrews Nick Hoelzeman and Avery Croswell. This was Sacred Heart’s second state appearance and second state championship, the first being in 2010.
