Quizbowl Team Ranks Top In State

Brendan Sheehan l Associate Editor

When it comes to delving deep into the world of student activities, it seems like nothing is more cutthroat and intense as Quiz Bowl.

With a first-in-the-state ranking and an 11-1 season, the Quiz Bowl A team is in midst of a very successful run with senior players Daniel Peelen, Zachary Brutko, Samuel Joffy and Tyler Steffy.

The A team placed _ at the Great Valley Tournament last Saturday scoring _. The team had three other successful wins, including going 9-1 at the Mellon Bowl at Carnegie Mellon University on Oct. 29, going 9-1 at the Henderson Invitational in West Chester on Nov. 19, and going 9-0 and winning the tournament title at the Manheim Township Invitational on Dec. 17.

“We hope to continue placing high at these tournaments, and then eventually end up with high placements in the state and national tournaments at the end of the year,” said Brutko.

The team was ranked unanimously number one by the Greater Pennsylvania Quiz Bowl society’s midseason poll ranking on Dec. 28.

According to Peelen, this season’s jump from third in the state last season to first is attributed to the group “filling in previous gaps” in the team and a greater balance between the team’s scoring players.

“I think we have done this well so far because of our ability to play off of each other’s strengths,” said Brutko. “We have great chemistry as a team, the rest of the season should be very exciting.”

The A team finds the most strength in the main subjects of fine arts, geography, history, literature and science, according to both Peelen and Thomas.

“Right now, there’s not one particular struggle we’re weak in other than religion and myth,” said Peelen. “At this level, we can make do, but our depth of knowledge does not cover it at higher levels.”

The graduation of Manheim Townshipz and Great Valley’s senior team captains at the end of last season has aided in limiting competition for the A team. However, Wissahickon’s A team, ranked second in the state, has seen large growth since last year being ranked at _.

“(Manheim Township and Great Valley) gave us fits last year, but they lost a lot of strength to graduation, and we didn’t,” said Thomas. “A lot of teams around the state are looking forward to the losses we are going to sustain from graduation this year.”

But with three out of the eight top teams in Pennsylvania being in the Lancaster-Lebanon League, competition keeps the team on their feet.

“We get plenty of competition in our league and the league tournament should be exciting,” said Thomas. “Hopefully, we’ll prevail.”