Academic Challenge promotes academic achievement in various subjects (literature, mathematics, science, history, etc). It is one of the many clubs offered at GlenOak in order to help students’ college applications improve and help prepare them for their classes.
As of this year, GlenOak’s Academic Challenge team has had an undefeated season, which has not happened since the season of 2020-2021. Matthew Brown, a math teacher and adviser for the Academic Challenge team, has only had five undefeated seasons throughout 30 years of advising them.
“The five members communicate well together and all of them harbor their own native knowledge for the team,” Brown said. “Liana Orn is specially skilled in her knowledge of literature and English, Jimmy Zurbuch is our go-to person when it comes to Social Studies, Vincent Tilenni is our go-to math person, Halle Speelman knows her art history well, and Carter Uhren is well-versed in all of the subjects.”
The team, as Brown has observed, is quietly competitive and always manages to stay calm under pressure. This is part of what has contributed to their standing success, and has also been noticed by the team members.
“We collectively have an amazingly interdisciplinary team, each with our own specific niches,” Zurbuch said. “My attitude plays a role in helping build up the team: I always lock-in and stay focused, rather than be loud and rambunctious.”
After the tryout sessions in September and when the team is finally selected for Academic Challenge, afternoon practices are usually held on Tuesday afternoons where Brown gives valuable subject material for the team to memorize and quiz over once a week.
“Mr. Brown is great at coaching us,” Zurbuch said. “He gives us a lot of practice packets containing a plethora of random knowledge: from literature and myths to presidents and vice presidents of the United States.”
The season officially began in early November, where they had most of their matches, as well as in December and leading towards the middle of January. The tournament was held on Feb. 2, and whoever won, or had the best record in the league, or both, were able to advance to the regional tournament.
“We won the tournament and got the best record in the league,” Brown said. “We’re in relaxation mode until April 18, which is when the regional tournament is.”
In order for the team to advance from the regional tournament, they have to place 1st, 2nd, or 3rd overall. Even though April is not near yet, the members will continue to routinely practice and hone their skills until they feel they are ready to compete once the regional tournament comes.
“I study what my skill set is in (geography, government, history) all of the time, merely because I am fascinated and look them up very often,” Zurbuch said. “My advice is to find your niche, and excel at it for success.”
