Academic Team buzzes their way to victory
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February 2, 2010 • written by Lauren Haley
Filed under News
What is the capital of Mongolia? Do you know?
The Academic Team does.
Every Sunday morning, News Channel 3 hosts their weekly Knowledge Bowl (K-Bowl), a game show competition for high schools. The Panthers will take over the buzzer against Houston High School at 9:00 a.m. on February 20.
Although it has not been aired yet, the results are in . . .
In this meet, Bartlett came out on top with a score of 240-200.
On BHS’s blogspot, Coach Jim Cacy refers to his team as the “underdogs” against Houston.
“Our team has traditionally been strong. However, the last two years when we have faced Houston in competition (tournaments held in and around Shelby County) they have managed to defeat us,” Cacy said. “Very few teams around expected us to defeat Houston.”
The team’s next challenge will be facing First Assembly Christian School (FACS) on Feb. 22 at the News Channel 3 station.
At each meet, two teams of four face off and try to answer more questions correctly than the other team. The questions can be on topics ranging from science to music.
The winning team earns scholarship money and bonds. In the past eighteen seasons, WREG has given away over $2 million to the winners of K-Bowl.
To win the scholarship money, the team has to come up with some sort of strategy.
“We have to stick to our tradition of challenging for as many questions as possible, make our opponents work for every point they earn, by beating us to the buzzer,” Cacy said.
Cacy says that the team’s competitive spirit, not only with the other team, but also between each other, makes them a strong team.
“When their teammate buzzes in with a correct response, I often see ‘bittersweet’ responses.” Cacy said “One of gratitude because they were right and earned us points; however, you can see a reaction of ‘Drat, they got it before I did.’ It is not a bad thing. It just makes our players work that much harder to buzz in correctly first.” Cacy said.
However, when it comes to the current events category, the team struggles a bit. Cacy attributes this weakness to the busy schedules that keep team members from catching up on the news, and it hurts them in the “lightning round” of the competition.
“If they don’t pick up the paper, or watch some news (or even look on “YAHOO”) once in a while . . . well, as the old adage goes, “I can’t play FOR them,” Cacy said.
Cacy enjoys coaching the K-Bowl team because he gets to travel with his team, but does not have to have weeklong hardcore practices.
“I gain an opportunity to work with some outstanding members of the Bartlett student body. I get the chance to travel with the students to various schools and sometimes colleges,” Cacy said.
Cacy also encourages all students to come to a meeting or two to see if K-Bowl is right for them.
“We meet each Wednesday, from 2- 4 p.m. It is open to any student who wants to try. If you like it, stay on and hopefully help us out.” Cacy said. “If you come and don’t like it, we understand– it’s not something for everyone.”
Should the team win against FACS, they will advance to the semi-finals. Cacy says he has faith in his team.
That faith will be tested on Feb. 22.
Best club ever!!! I’ve probably learned more from practices than I have from most of my classes. Great article, Lauren!!!