RMS Scholar’s Bowl heads to state

Russellville Middle School Scholar’s Bowl Team is proving this year that to have a successful team, strength in numbers isn’t necessary. According to Scholar’s Bowl sponsor Molly Bates, the team is operating with only about half of the usual number of students because of a new class that was introduced this year.

“We have seven members right now, but usually we have around 14,” Bates said.

That lack in numbers, however, is not hindering the team. RMS won the district tournament Jan. 27 and will be going to the state tournament Feb. 24.

Captain Maddy Green led the team through five rounds until she had to leave at lunchtime to play in a basketball game. Grace McDermitt led the team the final two rounds.

RMS was already in first place by lunchtime and continued undefeated except for one round, where the other team had to forfeit.

“It’s cool that we’re getting the chance to go to state this year,” McDermitt said.

Bates said the top two schools in the district go to state. Two “wild cards” also get to go – schools that have the highest points at district after the top two winners.

The team get a lot of practice throughout the year. Green said every month RMS competes against a school and plays two matches. There is also a tri-county tournament and the competition that each school has to host once every year as a fundraiser for the scholar’s bowl team. In total, Bates said students compete 17-18 times against other schools during the year.

“They all have their own specialties with what they’re best at,” Bates said. For instance, Grayson Murray is really good at history and politics, Green excels at mythology and Kaitlyn Balding knows all about the Marvel superheroes.

Green and McDermitt are the only two who were on the team last year. The other five – Balding, Murray, Pedro Lopez-Andres, Antonio Santamaria and Melanie Lora Trejo – are first-timers on the team.