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Quiz Bowl coach Lisa McClary has dreamed of winning the Quiz Bowl state championship since she became head coach six years ago. A team of sophomores and juniors participated at the MSHSAA state championships on May 6 and won first place, fulfilling this six-year goal. It was the first team state championship in school history.

This year, juniors Asher Lidsky and Sophie Lietzan, along with sophomores Elijah Elliot, Emily Berneking, and Graham Turner-Díaz, centered their efforts on developing their friendship and relationships with one another, as well as winning state. Ironically, McClary wasn’t with the team at Mizzou when they won the title.

“I was in Chicago with the middle schoolers when Soria told me that we won state, and when I read that text, I was so thrilled” McClary said.

The team was as excited as McClary, and they were all overjoyed that such a tiny team could win such a huge competition.

“We faced tough and difficult opponents. I enjoy the academic bowl because it allows us to meet new people and is one of the few ways to showcase your knowledge,” Lidsky said.

He intends to continue his academic adventure next year while competing in Quiz Bowl, where he aims to win nationals. Lietzan had similar feelings.

“It was difficult and aggravating to do, but it was very gratifying to do well at state,” she said. 

Berneking, Elliot, and Tuner-Díaz, all sophomores, believe that state was a fantastic experience for them and said they are proud of one another. All three sophomores will continue their academic careers with McClary for the next two years, but Elliot believes that CIS has the potential of doing much better at nationals next year.

“Nationals was disappointing, but I believe we pushed ourselves harder, and I’m pleased of everyone’s efforts,” Elliot said.

Both the sophomores and juniors are optimistic that the CIS Academic Bowl team will improve, learn, and grow in the coming year.

Article written by student contributor from the CIS Lion’s Ledger editorial team, the school’s newspaper.