Submitted photo

Minford High School Quiz Bowl Team. Pictured in the back row are Coach Brett Oakes, Co-Captain Nicholas Wise, Jamie Justice, Noah Thiel, Co-Captain Ethan Lawson, Cody Martin; front wow are Mikhaila Roe, Jacelyn Thornsberry, Lauren Coriell, Hayley Kline, Devon Shockley.

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RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY

PDT Staff Writer

MINFORD — The Minford High School Quiz Bowl team finished its regular season this year undefeated in 12 competitions to compete in the regional tournament. Though ending their story there, the team had such a phenomenal season they were invited to compete in the national Quiz Bowl tournament in Washington D.C.

Minford Quiz Bowl Coach Brett Oakes said the team is a member of the Southern Ohio Academic League, and yearly in the Southern Ohio Academic Tournament. Each year high school students (grades 9-12) have to try out for the team, which had 10 members this season.

“Quiz Bowl is a chance for high school students to showcase their academic talent. It’s really fun for them and it’s something that doesn’t get a whole lot of attention, usually, other than from the parents watching it,” Oakes said.

The team competed in 12 regular season competitions this year, and finished undefeated for their second year in a row.

“From our local league we qualified to a regional tournament, and from there it goes to state and we didn’t qualify for state,” Oakes said.

But the team wasn’t finished yet. They were still invited to compete in the National Academic Quiz Tournament (NAQT) in Washington, D.C., in June. More than 100 schools attended the competition. Minford competed in six matches and won three — defeating Fillmore Varsity (N.Y.) 190-95, Fruita Monument (Colo.) 195-190, and Central Bucks East (Penn.) 220-180.

“It’s kind of fun, because you put up your best students from your school against some of the best students from other area schools throughout the state, and in our case throughout the nation,” Oakes said.

In between their matches, the students visited the White House, Arlington National Cemetery, the Capitol building, Supreme Court building, International Spy Museum, American History Museum, and toured most of the major monuments and memorials in Washington, D.C.

“They were phenomenal,” Oakes said of his team’s performance this season. “They really exceeded my expectations at national, because once you get to that level the talent is just so competitive. They were were able to hold their own and beat three of the schools. Half of the schools we played, we beat. It was really a great experience.”

Among the members of his is a group of seniors whom he said has contributed a lot to their success these past few seasons. With the end of the school year, those students have now all graduated.

“I’m going to miss them, but I’ve got a lot of young talent coming back so I’m looking forward to see what next year brings,” Oakes said.

Ryan Scott Ottney can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 235, or rottney@heartlandpublications.com.