Last year, the North Central quizbowl team made it all the way to Atlanta for finals. This year, the team is working to place nationally. Weston Heeren, the staff sponsor for the quizbowl team, has been competing for more than three years. He believes this year the team has a real shot in nationals.
“I believe this is our year,” Heeren said.
Quizbowl competitions have been around for over 20 years at North Central.
“I would call it a fast passing buzzer trivia game over the sum of all human knowledge, it’s just competitive Jeopardy,” senior Deke Kandel said.
Kandel is a fourth year quizbowl competitor and this year’s team captain. Kandel’s responsibilities range from being the number one history player in the state to making study guilds for the team to practice.
“Deke is our captain, and [players] come talk to him. He has created some study guides that he’s shared with everyone else about certain topics,” Heeren said.
This year’s team is strong yet struggles with membership. The player numbers haven’t been as high as they hoped recently however North Central students can join by simply showing up.
“You just show up to a practice, and then you’re on the team. I would say don’t be discouraged by not knowing things at first, because no one is good at the game at first, but it’s really by having, like, a love for learning and a passion to improve,” Kandel said.
Members learn how to be teammates, friends and competitors. Heeren believes that all great competitors have special attributes. The ability to go with your gut and gather information given is found in all competitors.
“I learned about Quizzbol as an incoming freshman,” junior Finn Valentine said. “You get to work together as a team and compete with each other in a fun way.”
Joining the team has never been easier. Students can just show up, study and compete.
“Being on the Quiz Bowl team is so interesting,” junior Daphne Elliott “Being able to know people who go to my school better, but also, the people across Indiana.”
Learning the awesome content over tons of categories mixed with fast paced competition is really engaging. Everyone has the brain power to play, it’s just about finding it.
Already qualifying for nationals in Atlanta again this year, the team is accepting donations to help afford the trip. Contact Weston Heeren for more information.
