A Test of Teamwork and Tenacity
Local high school students to square off in state Knowledge Bowl competition
Three area high schools have advanced to the state level of competition after taking top honors in regional Knowledge Bowl events.
Student teams from Bertha-Hewitt, Brainerd, and Pine River-Backus school districts will move on to represent Region 5 at the Minnesota State Knowledge Bowl tournament April 7-8 at Cragun's Resort near Brainerd.
Two separate Brainerd High School teams placed first and second, with Pine River-Backus taking third, and Bertha-Hewitt fourth.
Phillip Olsen, Sourcewell student academic coordinator, said the 2021-2022 Knowledge Bowl season was a great success with 50 teams of junior high students from 18 districts, and 80 teams of senior high school students from 21 districts. All competed in three seasonal meets and one regional meet.
Their journey consisted of a variety of questions from history and math to science and literature in one 60 point written round, as well as four oral rounds of Beat the Buzzer.
"These students were competitive, knowledgeable, and had a lot of fun," Olsen said. "It was great watching teams grow, learn, strategize, and call each other up at every meet."
Knowledge Bowl, sponsored locally by Sourcewell, is for students in grades 7-12. Facing off against other teams, students work together to answer questions related to all areas of learning. Students recall, solve problems, think critically, and sharpen teamwork skills.
Competitions are in January, February, and March – with top teams in grades 9-12 advancing to the Minnesota State Knowledge Bowl.