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Who was the twentieth century British author whose book The Silmarillion was published after his death? What art style proposes that the essence of objects can only be captured by showing them from multiple points of view simultaneously?
Questions such as these are the routine fare as Scholastic Bowl teams from area schools meet for competition designed to test their skills from major authors to mathematical computation.
Teams consist of five members who pit their memory, knowledge, and skill against the opposing team for a game of 30 questions. Teams earn points for each correct answer as well as bonus points for being the first to solve a problem. The first contestant to "buzz in" with an answer gets to offer a response. A wrong response too fast, however, gives the opposition time to come up with a better chance for a correct answer.
It's a lot like a sport, notes Southern team member Matt McIntire, "because you are competing against other opponents, they keep score, there is a winner and a loser, and people come to watch it."
Well, not the gym-packing crowds for a basketball game, but at least a small group of dedicated followers and parents there to cheer on the team.
Lee Brokaw, another Southern team member added that "kids are using a talent to compete against other. In Scholastic Bowl, some matches can come down to a final question, like the final shot in a big game."
The excitement and tension at a meet are real, and the contestants generally take themselves very seriously. Team member Bob Turner noted that "it gets yousweating just like any other sport."
That's not to say that competition is necessarily cutthroat. A good smattering of questions come from popular culture, and the answer to any given question is as likely to be rock musician Van Halen as it is William Shakespeare.
Success at a contest such as this is partly a matter of good strategy and teamwork. Senior James Dye says that he learned that he "can work well with a team, and the best team is one that gets along."
Although any team may have especially strong members, Sara Ford believes that ultimate success comes from sharing the work and each team member knowing his or her share of the answers. "I learned that one person can't necessarily carry a team. It takes everyone on the team to win a meet."
In order to prepare for competition, Southern's team practices primarily in the mornings an hour or so before school begins. But there's only so much that going over sample questions and suggesting possible question topics can do for a contestant.
Alton Luder stated what most team members suggested as the best way to do well. Students can prepare by "paying attention in class. Most of the questions are on material studied in class."
Part of the challenge is the wide-ranging scope of question topics -- from the Periodic Table of Elements to Greek mythology to geometry calculations. Almost any topic might come up as a question in Scholastic Bowl.
Coaching a high-energy group of scholars is not the easiest task. Spanish teacher Mary Killey, tells of having to work around students' busy schedules of ball games, play practice, and their participation in other events.
Despite the difficulties of getting everyone at practice and scheduling meets between other school activities, Coach Killey has evidently made participation a learning experience but also a fun experience. Team members almost unanimously agree that the bus ride to a meet is one of the most fun things about being on the team.
But in addition to all the fun of participation, Matt McIntire summed up one important thing he'd learned this season: "I learned that I know more than I give myself credit for." Developing that kind of self-confidence is a big part of what Scholastic Bowl is all about for Coach Killey. She says, "I marvel at some of the information these young people know. I'm so proud of them. I know we're in good hands for the future."
As the team begins regional competition this week, Killey will be relying primarily on her varsity team members: Audrey Corey, Alton Luder III, Lee Brokaw, Sara Ford, Starr Robinson, Ryan Smith, Crystal Corzatt, James, Dye, and Matt McIntire.
Junior varsity team members this year were Bob Turner, Travis Pence, David Guile, Teresa Brokaw, Chad Kaup, Ciara Robinson, Kyle Wood, Ben Jacob, Nick Berg, Kim Plath, and Mallory McCollum.
So how do team members feel now that the season is almost over? In the words of Matt McIntire: "My first year in Scholastic Bowl was a blast. I have no doubt that my second year will be even better."
- article by Phil Geiser
Alton Luder, left, works on a mathematical calculation problem, with Lee Brokaw offering some help. Students have only a few seconds to calculate their response.
Scholastic Bowl Teams from Southern (left) and LaHarpe (right) line up against each other during last week's competition held in the LaHarpe High School library. Teams will be entering Illinois IHSA regional competition this week.
Four heads are better than one. Lee Brokaw, Sara Ford, Audrey Corey, and Starr Robinson debate an answer.
Chad Kaup, left, Theresa Brokaw, and David Guile join forces to figure out a geometry calculation problem.