For those who enjoy watching trivia-based game shows like Jeopardy! with Alex Trebek, a students vs. teachers knowledge bowl competition was held in the BPAC this last Thursday. Organized to help bring exposure to the club, many classes had the opportunity to watch peers and mentors alike battle to be the academic champion. Traditionally, this game had been annually held in the library, hidden from sight from the rest of the student body, but this year, Herr Mendro wanted to make it public.

In the beginning of the round, it seemed as if the odds were in the teachers’ favor. They held the advantage in their numbers alone, having the greatest minds of the school on their side. With the prestigious minds of each department on the team, such as Mr. Berg, Mr. Duskin, and Mme. Taylor, who are no strangers to the trivia community, they were almost assured victory. However, the knowledge bowl club had been practicing all year for competition, and with the combined brainpower of some of the top students of the school, they also had an equally legitimate claim to win.

Right away, the state-contending knowledge bowl team secured an early lead. Their reflexes were sharp, and their wits were even sharper as questions about spherical geometry, chemistry, and metrical feet were being asked. At the halfway point, they were in the lead, however, the teachers quickly caught up.

The audience sat, entranced and at the edge of their seats, biting their nails in anticipation of each correct answer. Incomprehensible intelligence and wildest guesses alike were flying in the air in hopes of being the true response, but, in the end, the teachers reigned victorious with a score of 16 correct answers. They were followed by the State-competing team, which acquired 13 points, and the second student team, which held only 12 points.

“I think we lost a few points that we could have gotten,” said junior Danilo Carrasco. Despite feeling like the student team could’ve performed better, he still thinks that the teachers deserved the win. “There were too many questions that were from when some of the teachers were alive and us students weren’t,” he added.

Even though the team lost in this round, he still believes that they have a fighting chance at the state competition because the numbers on each team will be equal. The team, named “AHS Jazz Combo,” secured second place at the regional playoffs at Kamiak High School, thus earning a spot at state.

In the end, the students vs. teachers game was a nice friendly battle of intellect. “I think it was really nice to have a lot of the student body see what goes on at Knowledge bowl,” said teacher and club organizer Herr Mendro. He hopes that the increased exposure to the club will help generate more participation in the years to come.

He has high hopes for the state team team’s abilities to compete. He believes that they have a shot at placing in the tournament, saying, “This is a good team we have this year.”

The state knowledge bowl tournament will be held this Saturday 3/17 at Arlington High School.