With the beginning of the year, clubs and activities are getting started, and Quiz Bowl is no exception. Sponsored by Mrs. Sharon King, this academic team is getting very pumped for the upcoming season.

For those who don’t know, Quiz Bowl is “an academic tournament, of sorts,” according to Jocelyn Sanders. When you arrive at the site of the competition, four desks are set up, where the team members sit, facing the person who asks questions of various subjects– “Geography, language…sometimes random ones,” says sophomore Collin King. “I’m the best at the random ones.”

Once the question is asked, if any member of a team knows an answer, they hit the buzzer and hope for the best. This is a unique activity. “Not many others involve using your brain,” Sanders said. “This one involves going beyond what’s required in your regular classes.” It is that same factor which intrigues King.

“I really like the variety of the questions…[and I] look forward to knowing a bit more than last year,” Collin King said.

The appeal for Jocelyn is “learning new things, and making new friends on the other teams. That’s probably the best part.”

The teams in the St. Charles league include all three Howell schools, Fort Zumwalt North and South, Holt, as well as others. Teams become familiar faces, especially thanks to the scrimmage at the beginning of the season. It is sort of a “get-to-know-you” competition, as well as a “get-to-know-the-game” competition, according to Mrs. King.

Although the games are competitive the spirit of the games are purely based around fun.

“That’s what I love about it,” Mrs. King said. “All the coaches are very laid back. It’s all about the experience– no one is too hard-core anymore.”

In past seasons, hard-core coaches had been an issue, and the students on those teams would be too scared to even enjoy the game. Mrs. King is extremely grateful that won’t be a problem this year, and she thinks the future looks bright. “It’s fun. It’s a lot of fun.”

The schedule of practices and competitions will be available soon, once the sponsors from each team in the league have their annual meeting.