Academic Team Wins PACE National Championship
Left to right: Co-Head Coach Ben Herman ’98, Robert Mansuetti ’17, Will LaMarra ’17, Austin Morton ’17, Robert Crawford ’18, Assistant Coach Anthony Cornish, and Co-Head Coach Christopher Gismondi ’00
The Catholic Central Academic Team, led by co-head coaches Ben Herman ’98 and Christopher Gismondi ’00, won the PACE National Championship in Chicago in June. This marks the program’s fourth national championship overall and second PACE championship, including 2015. CC finished the tournament undefeated and won the championship without requiring a final round. The A Team set a new school record for average points per game at PACE with 530.60, besting the 2015 national championship team’s previous record of 525.30. Furthermore, the B Team finished with a 26th place finish at PACE. The Shamrocks finished 2nd at the NAQT High School National Championship Tournament in Atlanta in May. Both the Shamrock B and C Teams finished 41st. With a 1st place at PACE and a 2nd place at NAQT, the A Team’s combined finish of 3 is a new school record, besting 2015’s and 2001’s previous record of 4. Congratulations to Ben Herman and Christopher Gismondi on being named National High School Quiz Bowl Coaches of the Year!
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Mr. Howard Weinberg, the founding coach of the CC Academic Team, was moved to write to the editor about the recent victories: Father, My congratulations to the coaches of the academic team on winning the PACE national tournament for the second time. Two weeks ago they came within one question of also winning the NAQT national tournament. Winning both national tournaments in the same year remains an elusive objective. However, they could not have come closer. A tremendous season. I see the last of the Crawfords was a starter on this team and, as a junior, figures to be the captain next year. In 2001 he was an infant being carried by his mother when the team captained by his brother won the state and NAQT tournaments. We wanted to fly over to see one of the national tournaments, but they conflicted with our trips to see the Indy car races at Indianapolis and Fort Worth. All is well in Nevada.
HSQBRank.com All-World 1st Team Robert Crawford ’18 All-World 2nd Team Austin Morton ’17 All-World Hon. Mention Robert Mansuetti ’17