NILES — After months of studying, Brandywine High School students showed their vast array of knowledge and competitive prowess during a Quiz Bowl competition April 13 at Michigan State University.

The students claimed a fourth-place win in the state competition this season, but the battle for Brandywine students is not over yet. After the win, students qualified to compete in a national competition in Chicago.

The team consists of students Austin Carter, Brandon Kirkendall, Camron Stout, and Verena Daniel. James Moray, the team’s coach and a Brandywine Spanish teacher, said he was excited to see students take home the victory.

“It was amazing,” Moray said. “I’m extremely proud of what these kids have accomplished.”

He added that the achievement would be a great one to round out Carter’s senior year competing with the team.

The team had an undefeated victory in the season leading up to the state competition. This year marked the second that the students got the chance to compete at the state level. In the final match that they won, Moray said Brandywine students defeated last year’s state champions from Sacred Heart Academy.   

For those not familiar with Quiz Bowl, Moray likened the competition to the popular game show “Jeopardy.” Like the show, students race to answer questions across a vast array of subjects.

“The key difference is you get to interrupt the person asking the question,” Moray said.

Students start preparing in November or December and throughout practices will study a variety of subjects to prepare for the competition, ranging from Medieval and U.S. history to chemistry, geography, and music. They will also play trivia games and discuss information that they have not heard before.

For those involved in Quiz Bowl, Moray said it could provide a fun environment for students to learn and compete with their peers.

“I think it’s nice to have an organization that celebrates academic success in the same manner that sports clubs and teams celebrate physical mastery,” Moray said. “They have this opportunity to demonstrate … all the knowledge they have from their classes, their reading outside of class and interests and hobbies that come together and help them improve in Quiz Bowl.”

In the coming weeks, Moray said the Quiz Bowl team would continue practicing.

For those who enjoy learning and want to put their quiz skills to the test, Moray encouraged them to join. A team for middle school students also meets regularly.

“It’s a great social event,” Moray said. “Competitions during the spring are a lot of fun. You get to travel to different schools and meet their teams.”