Spain Park wins Scholars Bowl State Championship

Spain Park High School placed first in the 2013 Scholars Bowl State Championship on April 12 at Jefferson State’s Shelby-Hoover Campus.

Huntsville’s Grissom High School battled Spain Park in a sudden death playoff for the championship. In the late afternoon, Spain Park won the last match and won the state title. Randolph School earned third place honors.

 “Students prepare for this tournament all year and they are serious about this competition” said Tournament Director and Jefferson State Instructor Lucy Lewis. “These are the best scholar teams from around the state and they are comprised of extremely bright students.”

To qualify for the state tournament, teams had to win a tournament in their district and win their region. Twenty-four teams competed.

 “The competition is very similar to a game show, where contestants compete to give the correct answer very quickly,” said Lewis. “It is easy to see the pressure increase as teams progress further into the tournament.”

During the tournament, four-person student teams face-off in head to head competition. A moderator asks questions and individuals “buzz” in with an answer.

 “The teams here definitely want to win, but this competition is also about celebrating our bright, young leaders of tomorrow,” said Lewis.

Jefferson State has hosted the state championship tournament for 10 years. For more information about the tournament, email llewis@jeffstateonline.com.