Trivia is not necessarily trivial. Sixteen high school academic teams are expected to gather Saturday in the Capital City to compete in an academic competition.
The attraction is the Bill Currie Memorial Tournament being hosted by the Jefferson City High School Scholar Bowl Team. Team member Isaac Baumann says the academic events are "like Trivial Pursuit on steroids." That's an apt characterization because knowledge of specific details is a valid indictor of the strength and depth of knowledge. That academic acumen if what the face-paced, question-and-answer format is designed to test.
Team members prepare by honing their individual academic strengths and by expanding their overall knowledge. They conduct research and practice rapid responses, using online quiz bowl forums.
The local team has its sights set on competing at the national levels. Members hope hosting the local competition will help recruit new team members, as well as raise both awareness and travel funds.
Sponsor Missie Valdiviez hopes Saturday's tournament "will set the tone for the competition season."
We wish the local team every success - as hosts Saturday, as competitors throughout the season and, most importantly, as lifelong learners.