Mar. 15, 2021 -- Roxboro Middle School’s Academic Challenge team has done it again. They qualified for the national tournament, a virtual competition hosted in Kansas City this May.

The five 6th and 7th graders led by teacher Amy Statler competed in the online National Academic Quiz Tournaments Competition hosted by Copley over the weekend, placing 2nd out of 24 teams. With a record of 7 wins and 2 losses, Ms. Statler said, “The team worked together wonderfully, highlighting each individual's talents very well.”

The games are played in Jeopardy-like rounds, with students buzzing in when they know the right answer. Players are encouraged to confer with one another, which allows for each student to bring their own specialized knowledge to the table. Captain Gabe Mallamad, a 7th grader in his second year on the team, was the highest  scorer at the entire tournament, averaging 98 points per game.

The new challenge the team faces will be rounding up the $600 registration fee to compete in the National Championship Tournament. Ms. Statler has created a fundraising page on CheddarUp if any readers would like to make a donation. You can also reach out to Ms. Statler directly at [email protected] regarding funding or joining the team.

Current team members are Gabe Mallamad (7), Charlie Jolivette (7), Avery Craft (7), Leo Fasolo (6), and Nora Lubbers (7).