The Bridgeport Middle School Quiz Bowl Team captured first place at the Nitro Middle School Invitational Quiz Bowl Tournament held Saturday at Nitro High School. Nineteen teams from eight schools participated. The only school representing Harrison County, BMS brought three teams. In addition to the A Team’s overall victory, the B Team finished 10^th and the C Team finished 17^th.

 

The BMS Quiz Bowl has participated in various tournaments across the state, but this is the first time to make an appearance at this particular event. It was a very good experience – and a new one, said Coach Beckie Alvaro.

 

“We were thrilled with the stiff competition and the afternoon format was not like the typical single- or double-elimination,” she said. “They bracketed the top six teams, which played together for final placement. Those teams played some very tough games.”

 

As a rule, tournament competition involves a round robin morning format, with top scoring teams from the morning session advancing to a single- or double-elimination format in the afternoon. At the Nitro event, three different teams of six students went on to afternoon play, but only the top teams from the morning session placed.

 

Although the BMS C team finished 17^th, team members – all sixth graders with the exception of one seventh grader – gained a most valuable experience, Alvaro said.

 

“They had a wonderful time playing,” she said.

 

It’s that type of satisfaction which fuels Alvaro’s fire to coach the BMS Quiz Bowl Team.

 

“This gives students an outlet. I have some athletes on the team, certainly. But not every child is an athlete, singer or dancer. For some kids, academics are their strength,” she said.

 

Alvaro has been involved in academic competition at BMS for many years. It was her oldest daughter, Deanna – now 32 – who got her involved, she said.

 

Members of the BMS A Team are eighth graders Lila Kimble, Raeanne Beckner, David Walker, Tanner Swiger and sixth grader Andrew Liu – who was the second-highest individual scorer of the day. Members of the B Team are Owen Hess, Guarab Chumber, Dalton Colton and Broc Oliverio. Members of the C Team are Sophia Gorby, Dakota Swiger, Corinne Yurkovitch and Alicia Moats.

 

The BMS Quiz Bowl Team practices 3-4 p.m. Mondays.

 

“Companies provide practice questions and we use those pre-made questions, just like we were participating in a real meet,” Alvaro said.

 

There are other meet possibilities during the 2014-15 school year.

 

“We’re hoping to participate in a meet at Hamilton Junior High in Parkersburg, and maybe one other,” Alvaro said.

 

Editor's Note: Pictured top/cover is the entire BMS Quiz Bowl Team. Pictured just above is the school's A Team: Lila Kimble, Raeanne Beckner, David Walker, Tanner Swiger and Andrew Liu.