Representing Cook County High School at the varsity Knowledge Bowl regional tournament was (L-R, front) Mara MacDonell, Audrey Summers, and Megan Lehto. (L-R, back) Sarah Larsen, Sean MacDonell, Katrina Axtell (back), Daniel Ditmanson, and Ben Seaton (Not pictured: Kieran Scannell).
The Cook County Knowledge Bowl varsity team fielded two teams that traveled to Mountain Iron, MN in February for a tournament, capturing fifth and sixth places. However, the Cook County scholars weren’t sure of their final standing until the remainder of teams in the region completed competition. When the preliminary tourneys were done, Cook County was still in good position—Team 1 earned 13th and Team 2 earned 22nd. The top 24 teams in the region advance, so it was off to Mountain Iron once again on March 15.
Cook County again fielded two teams and demonstrated their knowledge, answering increasingly difficult questions. Each round consists of approximately 60 questions and lasts 35 – 45 minutes.
We asked participants, “What was the toughest question?” Immediately Ben Seaton answered, “Where is the center of mass in a donut?”
Katrina Axtell said her toughest question was “What does it mean if a person is a victim of defenestration?”
Their teammates agreed, but added that some questions are much easier. “Sometimes they read passages from a book and ask who wrote it. That is usually really easy to figure out,” said Sarah Larsen, adding, “Some are nobrainers.”
The Cook County teams certainly used their brains. Team 1 worked its way steadily through tough questions, finishing in an impressive 7th place. Team 2 had ups and downs, bouncing between 16th and 22nd place, finally finishing in 22.
The top three teams from the regional tournament go on to the state competition in April. “Our kids did great,” said Coach April Wahlstrom. “This season we were able to expose some younger students to the tougher competition and they rose to the occasion. With more experience and increased knowledge as they continue their schooling, the future looks mighty bright for the Knowledge Bowl Teams of Cook County.”
Oh—and the answers to the tough questions? The center of mass in a donut is in the hole. And a defenestration victim is someone who has been pushed out of a window! Who said learning is boring?
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