What dance is named after one of the original 13 colonies? It’s a question that would stump most if it weren’t for the worldwide web.
The answer: The Virginia Reel.
The question was no sweat for the Oxford High School Scholars’ Bowl team. Correctly answering tough, obscure questions like that is what propelled OHS to the state Scholars’ Bowl Contest last weekend.
"This year was probably one of our best high school years for varsity," team captain, and OHS senior Ryan Sutton said. "This year we became more of a team rather than just a group of individuals working together."
The team didn't hit its stride at the state contest winning only one of five rounds. Oxford finished 2nd at state two years ago. This year's varsity team was made up of three seniors and three juniors.
"Three of us started out in 7th grade together and this is our last year together," senior Elizabeth Poovey said. "It's been a long ride."
In spite of falling short at the state contest, the experienced team did see quite a bit of success this season.
"I think it went really well, we took first in league and regionals," junior Travis Marler said. "And we went to state which is an achievement in of itself."
Oxford participated in 10 scholars’ bowl contests this year, winning two and placing in all of the rest. Senior Allison Neises is also pleased with how the season went.
"It was really amazing," Neises said. "We got to go to some newer meets so we didn't participate with all the same schools."
Neises, Poovey and Sutton have participated in scholars’ bowl for six years. With that solid foundation, what makes this year stand a part from the rest?
"I would say that we have had the most knowledge base this year," Poovey said. "We've gained two new members to our varsity squad verses the four that have been together since my sophomore year..."
With the state contest in the books, assistant coach Dixie Simpson recalled the questions at the contest were kicked up a notch.
"They were tough," Simpson said. "There were good teams, obviously you have the 12 best teams in the state and unfortunately somebody has to lose." Questions like the one about the Virginia Reel dance, Neises explained, are the type teams expect to see at the state level.
"Some of the random more obscure facts like that you would only see at state," she said. "But there are some really random questions that our team is best known for at the other meets."
As this group of seniors heads out the door, scholars’ bowl is sure to leave a lasting impression.
"Probably what I'll take with me the most is just the randomness of everything," Poovey said. "...We are the nuttiest bunch there is."
The team has three juniors set up for a return next year with Marler, Kally Simpson and Jacque Miller.
"We'll have to bond a little more because we're losing three people," Simpson said. "So we'll have to build up a little more."
Kally is the daughter of the assistant coach Dixie Simpson. The Oxford junior knows what she has to do to prepare for the teams next go.
"I’m hoping to increase my knowledge base on more of other things instead of just literature which is my main subject," Kally said. "So I'll be studying more history and science."
For the seniors on the team it is going to be tough to walk away from the tradition they've built up.
"It's an emotional time, I've been in scholars bowl for a full six years.” Sutton said. “...Going away is going to be hard, leaving such a powerful team, a team that can do so much-it's going to be a hard time to leave them."
Sutton is the son of Scholars’ Bowl Head Coach Kathy Sutton,
“This team is awesome," the head coach said in a press release last week. "They work so well together and have so much fun competing, even if they do not place every time."
Scholars’ bowl teams answer questions in the categories of language arts, math, science, social science, fine arts, sports, and either a foreign language or miscellaneous question. It's the assistant coach that has a pretty good answer for the question about how the team will fair next year.
"I look for them to be a strong team, you know the chemistry is going to change and that's okay," Simpson said. "There isn't any reason they can't make a trip back to state next year."
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What dance is named after one of the original 13 colonies? It’s a question that would stump most if it weren’t for the worldwide web.
The answer: The Virginia Reel.
The question was no sweat for the Oxford High School Scholars’ Bowl team. Correctly answering tough, obscure questions like that is what propelled OHS to the state Scholars’ Bowl Contest last weekend.
"This year was probably one of our best high school years for varsity," team captain, and OHS senior Ryan Sutton said. "This year we became more of a team rather than just a group of individuals working together."
The team didn't hit its stride at the state contest winning only one of five rounds. Oxford finished 2nd at state two years ago. This year's varsity team was made up of three seniors and three juniors.
"Three of us started out in 7th grade together and this is our last year together," senior Elizabeth Poovey said. "It's been a long ride."
In spite of falling short at the state contest, the experienced team did see quite a bit of success this season.
"I think it went really well, we took first in league and regionals," junior Travis Marler said. "And we went to state which is an achievement in of itself."
Oxford participated in 10 scholars’ bowl contests this year, winning two and placing in all of the rest. Senior Allison Neises is also pleased with how the season went.
"It was really amazing," Neises said. "We got to go to some newer meets so we didn't participate with all the same schools."
Neises, Poovey and Sutton have participated in scholars’ bowl for six years. With that solid foundation, what makes this year stand a part from the rest?
"I would say that we have had the most knowledge base this year," Poovey said. "We've gained two new members to our varsity squad verses the four that have been together since my sophomore year..."
With the state contest in the books, assistant coach Dixie Simpson recalled the questions at the contest were kicked up a notch.
"They were tough," Simpson said. "There were good teams, obviously you have the 12 best teams in the state and unfortunately somebody has to lose." Questions like the one about the Virginia Reel dance, Neises explained, are the type teams expect to see at the state level.
"Some of the random more obscure facts like that you would only see at state," she said. "But there are some really random questions that our team is best known for at the other meets."
As this group of seniors heads out the door, scholars’ bowl is sure to leave a lasting impression.
"Probably what I'll take with me the most is just the randomness of everything," Poovey said. "...We are the nuttiest bunch there is."
The team has three juniors set up for a return next year with Marler, Kally Simpson and Jacque Miller.
"We'll have to bond a little more because we're losing three people," Simpson said. "So we'll have to build up a little more."
Kally is the daughter of the assistant coach Dixie Simpson. The Oxford junior knows what she has to do to prepare for the teams next go.
"I’m hoping to increase my knowledge base on more of other things instead of just literature which is my main subject," Kally said. "So I'll be studying more history and science."
For the seniors on the team it is going to be tough to walk away from the tradition they've built up.
"It's an emotional time, I've been in scholars bowl for a full six years.” Sutton said. “...Going away is going to be hard, leaving such a powerful team, a team that can do so much-it's going to be a hard time to leave them."
Sutton is the son of Scholars’ Bowl Head Coach Kathy Sutton,
“This team is awesome," the head coach said in a press release last week. "They work so well together and have so much fun competing, even if they do not place every time."
Scholars’ bowl teams answer questions in the categories of language arts, math, science, social science, fine arts, sports, and either a foreign language or miscellaneous question. It's the assistant coach that has a pretty good answer for the question about how the team will fair next year.
"I look for them to be a strong team, you know the chemistry is going to change and that's okay," Simpson said. "There isn't any reason they can't make a trip back to state next year."
