St. Peter Interparish School eighth-grader Zach Gaines faced 100 of the top, young geography minds in Missouri this weekend.
The audience numbers weren't as intimidating at the University of Missouri agriculture building, Gaines said, as they were at the school bee in January.
Only parents were listening in on the eight questions to determine who would advance to the final rounds at the state National Geographic Bee. At St. Peter, the entire school turns out in the gym for the day.
During the school competition, people in the crowd might be heard saying, "I didn't know that" or surprised at the answer.
"At state, they all know their stuff," Gaines said.