NATIONAL QUIZ BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP

When the final scores were tallied in the National Academic Championship Quiz Bowl, the Gold Team from Chaffin Junior High was named the national champion. Chaffin Junior High sent three teams to the national tournament in Washington, D.C., in early June. Chaffin’s three teams — Gold, coached by Amy Markham; Green, coached by Logan Hopes; and White, coached by Autumn Minnick and Mark Minnick — won 16 games in the tournament play. Seven teams, including Chaffin’s Gold and White teams, along with two teams from Nebraska, two teams from New Jersey and one Pennsylvania team qualified for the playoffs. On day four of the tournament, Chaffin Gold and Chaffin White won the two semi-final games to earn spots in the National Championship D.C. finals. Chaffin White entered the playoffs as the only undefeated team, but Chaffin Gold had the highest points per game average. Gold won the day by a score of 320-235, making them the champions of the D.C. Hub in the middle school/junior high division. National Academic Championship has three hub championships — New Orleans, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. Atlanta Paideia B Team won the New Orleans Hub. Next Generation School A from Champaign, Ill., won the Chicago Hub. The champions from each location are considered for the title of national champion. The teams were first separated by number of losses, with Next Generation finishing with two losses and Paideia and Chaffin Gold each finishing with one loss. Though Paideia and Chaffin Gold were very close, Chaffin was declared national champions based on the organization’s formula. “I am so proud of these amazing students and so thankful to the sponsors, teachers and parents that helped us get to this amazing end,” said Amy Markham, Chaffin Quiz Bowl sponsor and coach. Noah Risley, a member of the Gold Team, had the highest point scoring totals in the D.C. tournament and was named the DC MVP. Chaffin Gold Team members are Mahdir Anower, captain, Noah Risley, Haris Rana, Vivian Apple, Lucas Teoh, Seth Geoates and Tran Nguyen. Chaffin White team members are Kenneth Clardy, captain, Ashton Bailey, Gabe Davis, Jackson Wollscheid, Sam Hannson, Jack Minnick and Myriam Rodas.

NATIONAL QUIZ BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP

STAFF

Times record | 6/16/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Chaffin Junior High School