This week I’m shining the spotlight on the U of D quiz bowl team! Quiz Bowl is an intellectually engaging and fast-paced academic competition that brings together teams of students to showcase their knowledge across a wide range of subjects. Rooted in the pursuit of academic excellence, Quiz Bowl matches are not only a test of factual recall but also a demonstration of strategic thinking and quick reflexes. Participants compete to answer questions on various topics, creating an electrifying atmosphere that fosters a love for learning and healthy competition. The quiz bowl teams consist of four varsity teams. Varsity Grey, just one of the varsity teams, is currently undefeated. They are led by their senior captain, Charlie Christensen. The quiz bowl team has an extremely anticipated match against Detroit Country Day. This rivalry is not something new, as Detroit Country Day was the second best quiz bowl team in the nation just last year! Now, the stakes are the highest as the two quiz bowl giants clash head to head! Only one team will leave undefeated! A member of the varsity grey team, Joe Dedenbach, believes that Mr. Hill, the coach of the team, has prepared them well to take down Country Da and maintain their number one spot. I think its safe to say the cubs have their calendars marked for the 30th of January to prove themselves against some of the best in the nation.
Now taking a different direction, Joe Dedenbach gives us a look inside at what being a part of the quiz bowl team is like. There are not many official practices, so preparing in your own time is a necessity to succeed. Preparing and practicing for a quiz bowl match is easier than one might guess. Just answering questions is one of the best ways to prepare for the quiz bowl. Another member of the team, Kyle Telang puts it simply, “Just answer questions”. Now onto matches. Matches vary between 30-45 minutes before a winner is declared. The quiz bowl matches are much shorter than your average sports event, but also much more complex. A quiz bowl match is very similar to family feud. Quiz Bowl matches typically consist of two teams, each comprising four players. The game is moderated by a quizmaster who poses questions to the teams. The questions cover diverse subjects such as literature, science, history, current events, and the arts. The match is divided into rounds, each with its own set of rules. There is a person who reads out a question and the players must press the buzzer before the other team answers the question. If correct, your team gets three more questions to answer and you can talk among your teammates.
Back in my sophomore year at the high, I was lucky enough to attend a quiz bowl match. Contrary to popular belief, these matches get intense. I remember being able to sit in the same classroom as the match. It was a back-and-forth match and U of D was barely ahead. Then controversy struck when the official reading the question misspoke and threw off the cub player. It then allowed the other team to steal the game from the Cubs. Although it was not the ending I had wished to see, it was extremely thrilling and intense. I highly recommend that everyone gets out to see and witness a match. The Cubs are very well-known for having large student sections. I’m sure it would be very exciting to get the number of students from a basketball game, to attend a school quiz bowl match.