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FSHS competes at State Scholars Bowl
Knowledge is definitely power for a group of local high school students.
The Fort Scott High School varsity scholars team competed in the State Scholars Bowl on Saturday at Wellington High School in Wichita. According to the group's sponsor Fort Scott High School gifted education teacher Diane Endicott, to her knowledge, the scholars team is the first group of students from the local high school that has qualified for this honor.
In order to be able to compete at the state level, the local students had to qualify at the regional competition, which was conducted on Jan. 31. Endicott said a scholars bowl is an academic competition. In the state competition, the students were required to answer questions in several subject areas including math, science, social science, language arts, fine arts, world languages and year in review.
Endicott said that the students were positioned at a table with their backs facing the audience. Each student had a buzzer placed in front of him or her, which they used to let the judges know that they knew the correct answer. Although the team members were allowed to discuss the answers among themselves before they buzzed in, they only had 10 seconds to do so. In addition, Endicott said, since the Fort Scott team was competing against another team, the members did not want to take too much time discussing, because that gave the other team a chance to buzz in first.
In each match that the scholars endured, they were given the opportunity to answer 16 different questions. For each correct answer the team received 10 points. The team that accumulated the most points at the end of the match was declared the winner.
Endicott said that although the FSHS team didn't win the state event, the members competed well.
"After two tie-breakers, we were eliminated from qualification for finals. We defeated our region champions and were competitive with the other schools in the state. It was a great experience for all of us," she said.
The students said that they have been practicing during their lunch hour at school a couple of times a week in order to prepare for academic competitions. Endicott said the students have been competing in competitions since November.
Joe Reichard, a third year competitor, said that the first tournament that he competed in was a little nerve-racking, but after that he was not that nervous. The other team members agreed that competing in the events does not make them nervous; they really enjoy the academic competitions.
Catherine Sercer, a four-year competitor, said that each of the team members is more knowledgeable in different subject matters.
That is why it is important that the team members are able to discuss the answer before they buzz in, third-year competitor Molly Karleskint said.
Corey Midkiff, first-year competitor, said that he was excited to be able to compete at the state level.
Karlskint, showing her excitement, said that it is cool that her team is the first Fort Scott team to qualify for state.
Andy Reichard, fourth-year competitor, said that he was confident that his team would do well when they competed at state.
"If we are good enough to get there, we're good enough to compete there," he said.
Endicott said that the local team members have developed abilities that will impact their future.
"These very bright students enjoy intellectual and academic challenge. They have taken the most rigorous course work and take each homework assignment seriously. I anticipate a bright future for each of these young men and women," Endicott said.
According to Endicott, the high school also has a junior varsity scholars team, which does a wonderful job competing. However, Endicott said that the school was only allowed to qualify one team for the state competition.