Editor’s Note: Results from the Quiz Bowl’s 2022 national championship run were not available as of press time. Watch for a complete story on the Bucks season online at UpNorthVoice.com in Mid-May.
ROSCOMMON – Talent, goal oriented, competitive spirit, strong work ethics, and supportive staff, coaches and parents all are part of how the Roscommon Bucks Quiz Bowl A Teams have managed to place first in two televised leagues competitions this school year, as well as reigning 2021 and 2022 Michigan Class C State Champions.
But it’s taken a season, and years of challenges for the team to get to the top of their class.
Students in Roscommon Schools have been participating in Quiz Bowls and Knowledge Bowl competitions for many years. 30+ years ago, Coach Dawn Humphreys had a team of 4-5 students who traveled within the Jack Pine Conference. Competing with 5-6 teams in the conference, they “did pretty decent, always finishing in the top three positions,” said current Coach Jim Perialas.
Senior team members this season include – Meredith Kilbourn, Josh Jacobs, Aaron Gee, Mason Bunn, Avery Smitz, Josh Fairbanks, Joel Ewald and Jackson Thiel.
Within the past 12 years, the Roscommon program moved to include a junior varsity team, beginning with seventh grade. That move has increased the number of students competing from Roscommon to between 20-25. They now have Varsity A, B and C Teams, as well as JV A and B competing in the league.
Students are well rounded, not only are they some of the brightest scholastically, but many compete in football, basketball, soccer, and volleyball as well Quiz Bowl athletics. In other words, he said, “it became cool to do Quiz Bowl.”
The 2021/22 season has four foreign exchange students on Roscommon Bucks Varsity Team. Two from Italy, one from France and one from Viet Nam.
As with any competitive sport, Quiz Bowl Team athletes are studying and training all year. Spend a few minutes with Perialas, and it’s easy to tell the pride he has in his team.
