[Garden City, KS] February 28, 2022 – Recently, the Garden City Community College Quiz bowl Team had the opportunity to travel to Chicago with 24 other teams from sectional tournaments across the country. Quiz bowl teams use buzzers to answer questions about science, math, history, literature, mythology, geography, social science, current events, sports, and popular culture. The matches feature a blend of individual competition and team collaboration since no individual player is likely to be an expert in all subject areas. Participation in quiz bowl reinforces lessons from the classroom and encourages players to develop new intellectual interests. The game was two days worth of competition. Despite that, the team had made more than enough time to enjoy the sights and fun activities that Chicago had to offer. The Quiz bowl team comprises six scholars, Josh Mitchell, Emily O’Neal, Aubrey Simon, Yadiel Soto-Rocha, Cindy Rundell, and Cayden Cundiff, and two coaches, Cody Cundiff and Dr. Haley York. 

The tournament took place on the 24th (Friday) and 25th (Saturday) of February. Garden City managed to place 19th out of 24, with four wins and seven losses. The team was lucky enough to fly out a day early to enjoy the Shedd Aquarium, Millennium Park, and the Gangsters and Ghosts tour of Chicago. Despite the cold weather and windy city, the Quiz Bowl team survived the Windy City of Chicago. To get around, the team took public transportation, trains, and buses, to get into and around the city. Taking in the sights, the team was also able to enjoy some entertainment in the form of improv comedy in Second City. Cody Cundiff, the head coach of the team, described the trip in a positive way for things outside the quiz bowl. 

 “As far as the tournament goes, the team placed about where I thought they would… As far as the trip goes, my focus was for the students to make some memories doing activities they were all interested in… I’m proud of how they did in terms of tournament play.” Cundiff said. “They held their own. But most importantly, my primary hope is that they return home with fond memories of Chicago, Quiz Bowl, and GCCC and have further developed bonds to take to their following chapters. They’re good students and better people.” 

The next stop for the Quiz Bowl team is Quizards vs. the Pub Trivia Night at Hidden Trail Brewing – a fundraising event against the public on March 31st. Then the State tournament in Salina is on April 14 – 15.