Students compete in state Knowledge Bowl
The Brainerd and Little Falls High School Knowledge Bowl teams gave it their best shot this week in the state Knowledge Bowl competition in East Gull Lake.
The teams competed Wednesday and Thursday in the Class 2A division at the 2009 Minnesota Service Cooperative Knowledge Bowl state competition at Cragun's Conference and Golf Resort in East Gull Lake.
The Brainerd team of seniors Micah Gustafson, Aidan Breen, Andrew Morreim and Tom Fraki and junior Tom Freeman finished in 21st place with a score of 90 points.
Brainerd High School Knowledge Bowl team members Micah Gustafson (left), Tom Freeman, Aidan Breen and Andrew Morreim pondered a question at Minnesota Service Cooperatives Knowledge Bowl State meet Thursday at Cragun's Resort in East Gull Lake. The Brainerd team placed 21st in the Class 2A division. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls» Purchase reprints of this photo.
Little Falls High School qualified two teams for the state meet. The Little Falls team of juniors Oliver Carrillo, Ben Surma, Eddie Oldenburg, Melissa Von Itter and Brittany Meyer-Madges placed 15th with 99 points. The team of seniors Madeline Jarvis, Kaitlin Norwood, Abra Fisk, Jake Devine and Lauren Theis placed 18th with 94 points.
A total of 24 teams competed in both the Class 2A division as well as the Class 1A division.
Brainerd Knowledge Bowl coach Craig Rezac said it was the first state competition for the five Brainerd students on the team this season. Rezac said the students finished in 12th place in the written round on Wednesday but fell to 21st place Thursday during the oral rounds.
"They slipped a little, but they had a couple of good rounds," said Rezac. "Last year we placed 22nd so we improved a little."
The written portion of the competition, which was completed Wednesday, consisted of 60 questions. Then the teams competed in five oral rounds Thursday. In each round, 45 questions were asked within 30 minutes and students had to act fast to answer the question correctly.
Rezac said Freeman will be back on the Knowledge Bowl team next school year, as well as several other younger students who were in the program, so "Brainerd has a bright future in Knowledge Bowl."
Mike Huck, Little Falls Knowledge Bowl coach, said the Little Falls teams held the last two places after the written round, but worked hard at the oral questions to finish better in the competition.
"This team of juniors has been together for five years and they've had a good season," Huck said. "Last year this team placed 17th at state."
Huck said the team of juniors earned the Heritage Spirit Award at the state competition. Huck said the award, which was voted on by other teams, judges and leaders, recognizes the team with the best team spirit.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.