The Smith-Cotton Academic Team put its “useless facts and information” to good use.
The back of the team’s shirts read that it is an outlet for which the members can finally use all of the seemingly useless facts and information they’ve learned in class. The team competed at the Class 4, District 12 Scholar Bowl competition April 8, putting all of that trivial data to use, and won first place.
S-C’s team — Dustin Belsha, Hunter Sparks, Edward Toderescu, Makenna Steger and Val Toderescu — competed against Harrisonville, Raymore-Peculiar and Marshall. Belsha, a junior, took second and sophomore Edward Toderescu was third all-district individually.
At an Academic Bowl, teams go head-to-head, answering questions on subjects including history, literature, science, math, fine arts, current events, sports, and pop culture. Teams use buzzers to ring in, and whoever answers correctly first gets 10 points.
S-C started out its road to victory against Harrisonville with a 360-200 win. The Tigers struggled with buzzing in quickly enough the first round, but still came out with a win in the first game. S-C headed into the championship round against Ray-Pec, who defeated Marshall 310-260.
Belsha said that at the end of the third quarter of the last round, S-C was down by 130 points, the equivalent of 13 questions. He said the team used “laser precision” to catch up to Ray-Pec, and answered the final question correctly to break the tie and win, 320-310
“It was like a photo finish,” he said.
Academic Team Coach Michelle Steger said the team prepares for all of the competitions the same: They simply get together and discuss possible test questions. The team researches various authors, playwrights or artists to have more information about them. She recruits members through the S-C activity fair and just by talking about the group. The team has come in second in the West Central Conference for the past three years, and came in second at districts last year.
“Last year, we lost to Lee’s Summit West in overtime, so that was pretty heartbreaking,” Edward Toderescu said. His brother, Val, added, “Winning districts this year was like the Royals and the World Series. We lost one year, and won the next. It’s fine.”
Regarding the individual all-district awards, Belsha said the whole team competes at once against the other team; individuals answer the questions, and the judges record them.
“It’s a team effort with individual recognition.” Coach Steger said. “Dustin and Edward are very strong players. They both have a vast area of knowledge. In general, all five of our district players are very knowledgeable and they all work together very well. All contributed to the win. Each (player has) their area of specialty, such as Dustin’s is history and Edward was very useful on the math questions at districts.”
The team looks forward to sectionals today, April 26, at Rolla.
