From left to right, Wyatt Gildea '19, Michael Mahoney '20, and Davis Grubb '18 are three members of the Quiz Bowl team that will represent Christ School later this month in Chicago.
Quiz Bowl Team Qualifies for Nationals
Invitation is first of its kind for Christ School
Christ School's Quiz Bowl team is sending out Sandy Powers in style.
For the first time ever, the Greenies will compete in the Small School National Championship Tournament which is April 27-29 in Chicago. The invitation-only event, put on by National Academic Quiz Tournaments, includes a total of 160 teams from across the United States.
Christ School will be sending four boys to test their trivia limits – Davis Grubb '18, Lux Haney-Jardine '20, Michael Mahoney '20, and Wyatt Gildea '19 – along with two coaches – Ben Dowling and Powers, who is retiring as a Math teacher in May.
"The invitation to the national tournament is a great payoff for the students' work and commitment," Dowling said. "It is also a much-deserved capstone to Mrs. Sandy Powers' extensive career. Every boy involved in the program has been drawn to her leadership and tender guidance. Without Mrs. Powers, there would not be a Quiz Bowl team. I know that the boys hope to perform well at the tournament in honor of their coach."
Christ School's Quiz Bowl team has only been in existence for five years. The Greenies qualified for the national tournament based off their scores throughout this season. Region-wide, they were second only to Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy out of Mooresboro, N.C.
"Starting a new program at a school is a daunting task," Dowling said. "Five years ago, when Sandy asked me to be her wingman as she initiated a Quiz Bowl team, one of my concerns was that we were too small of a school to build a competent group. But this year proves that our size is our advantage. After a great fourth season anchored by committed seniors, this year's team is varied in age, grade, and interest. And they have outperformed our expectations across the board. They are committed and disciplined to preparation and participation. That has made all the difference. They are engaged without being absorbed. Confident without being cocky."
Christ School is guaranteed at least 14 rounds of play in Chicago. Wyatt and Lux said that the Greenies are overjoyed at the opportunity that awaits them in The Windy City.
"Being invited to nationals was such an honor to receive. I've been on this team since my 8th-grade year and it was very rewarding to see all of our hard work pay off in this invitation," Wyatt said. "In my opinion, this is the best team Christ School has ever had and I think we have a real shot to place in the top half of teams at the tournament."
"It was shocking initially," Lux said. "We all thought after losing multiple valuable seniors last year that we wouldn't be able to perform at as high of a level as we had previously. This, of course, turned out to be false. More than anything I'm just ecstatic to be able to represent Christ School and compete in Chicago at the national tournament.
Lux Haney-Jardine '20, second from left, will be part of Christ School's Quiz Bowl team later this month.
