Adam Friedman
staff writer

The Quiz Bowl team won big on Oct. 27, when they competed in the first round of NBC’s It’s Academic quiz show.

This annual tournament hosts high schools in the D.C. metropolitan area to compete on TV to bring attention often reserved for student athletes to the arena of academic achievement. Last year, this school’s team made it to the semi-finals and their goal for this year is to make it all the way.

President junior Arnav Patra led the team including Vice President junior Mollika Singh, Treasurer junior Surya Perla, and alternates sophomore Bojun Li and sophomore Samyak Gadepalli at NBC Washington. “I have been a part of the team since freshman year, and I really enjoy that I am able to explore different academic areas that I wouldn’t be able to in school, plus I get to hang out with my friends and be in a team setting at the same time,” Patra said.

Principal Kimberly Boldon, Principal Intern Tiffany Awkard and club sponsor Brett Bentley also traveled with the team to the first round.

Aside from the win, the team had a great time afterward. “After the show, we all went and got food together as a team, and it was a really great time,” Patra said.

The show is one of the team’s biggest competitions each year, another of which is the National History Bowl, where the team came in 20th nationally last year. The team also competes in the local competitions through the Maryland Academic Beltway League (MABL) and National Academic Quiz Tournaments (NAQT). “We have regular competitions, usually about three to four times a semester,” Patra said.

The team is always looking for new members. “We meet in room 286 Thursdays after school and Tuesdays at lunch. If you are looking to try something new and meet some great people at the same time as well, I highly encourage you to try it out. It is a great time,” Patra said.

The next round of It’s Academic for the team is in February and will air on NBC in March.