A Talk with the Quiz Bowl Champions

By Emma Rathgeber and Elaine Wang gave

Recently, we had a chance to sit down and have a talk with the student members of Team Dunleavy, who won it all at the Intramural Quiz Bowl tournament this year Take a look:

Q: Do you have a team name?

A: Tara: Our team name is “The Inconceivables.” Last year we were talking about The Princess Bride after we encountered a quiz bowl question about it Coincidentally, Dunleavy suggested this name since it’s a famous quote from the movie.

Q: How long have you guys been a part of quiz bowl? How did you get started, and what attracted you to the club?

A: Tara: Two years. I was inspired to join by my love of Jeopardy!, which I watch all the time Ana: Every time we hung out, we would always play a trivia game, such as Trivial Pursuit or Jeopardy!, and it became sort of a tradition for us.

Q: Winning the competition was obviously memorable for you guys, but was there another moment from this year’s competition that stands out to you?

A: Ana: It was always funny when the teachers were asked pop culture questions during the “teachers only” set of questions When asked about Taylor Swift’s latest album, Midnights, I was genuinely surprised that Mr Dunleavy was the only teacher that could actually name a Taylor Swift album when he answered Red. It may not have been the answer, but it definitely word us a good laugh!

Q: Quiz bowl is all about combining your knowledge to cover as much information as possible. Do you guys each have certain strengths that you bring to the table?

A: Ana: Tara has a vast knowledge of the most random facts due to her love for Jeopardy! and learning in general. She is also extremely knowledgeable on topics such as history and geography Maria and I have a good understanding of more internationally-inclined questions since we travel often and learn a lot from the various cultures we’ve encountered. Maria is also very knowledgeable on topics centering around music and pop culture I like keeping up with the news and current events which helped answer some of the questions related to that field

Q: Was there any team that gave you a run for your money?

A: Tara: All of the teams we went against were good competition.

Q: Any advice for students who would like to join quiz bowl?

A: Tara: Don’t focus on studying and memorizing facts. Focus on exploring your interests and having fun

Ana: Rather than striving for the win, focus on having fun and creating a strong friendship with your teammates that goes beyond the competition. For us, the true win was the experience itself and having fun.

Q: Other than Intramural Quiz Bowl, are you guys a part of any other activities in or out of school?

A: Ana: I have been part of the school’s fencing team for three years The experience every year is amazing. The group of people are all so great and willing to help other fencers advance and learn The captains, which I had the honor of being this and next year, are also very attentive of the team’s needs and are always pushing the team to do their best while furthering our athletic abilities. I’m also part of the ECHO club and love writing and editing articles concerning school news, current events, book/movie reviews, and much more.

Maria: I’m also a member of ECHO, the school newspaper, and I play on the school’s golf team. I’ve done both for three years.

Q: It’s clear that you guys have a vast collection of knowledge, but do you know what area of study you want to focus on for college?

Tara: Definitely something related to history and/or the humanities

Ana: Major in architecture and minor in civil word engineering. I’ve always found drawing and sketching as a form of relaxation and have always loved math as well. The study of architecture not only brings together these subjects, but also incorporates my interest in other cultures and traditions as well.

Maria: I’m looking to study business in the future

Q: Favorite book?

A: Tara: I love A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

Ana: The Outsiders and Catcher in the Rye. They’re great coming-to-age books that every teen can relate on some sort of level. My guilty pleasure, though, is probably the Harry Potter series!

Maria: Lovely War is a great one.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: Tara: It’s a Wonderful Life.

Ana: The Princess Bride. It’s such a classic with a nice blend of humor and the fantasy world. I could watch it over and over with my family and friends and never get tired of it!

Maria: My favorite has to be La La Land