N.C. A&T’s quiz bowl team finished the year in the top six at the Honda Quiz Bowl tournament, April 4-8 in Orlando, Fla. Each year 64 HBCUs go to battle with a buzzer in hand to discover the most intelligent collegiate team. Although Quiz Bowl is not highly recognized by the student body, the faculty and its participants deem it worthy of being classified as a sport. “It’s a high-profile sport on a different level than athletics,” said Ralph Brown, Quiz Bowl coordinator. The team composed of all different majors and ethnic groups ranked 10 places higher this year than in former years. The secret weapon was a tight friendship, according to team captain George McHugh. Many hours of practicing in the library added to the ammunition. Varsity team members Jonathan Rosero, Antoine Harris, Derrick Ware, George McHugh and William Griffin were known for practicing for hours in the library along with the junior varsity team members Jacinta Simmons, Haile Lindsay, Justin Bullock, Jermelle Jordan and Jemeika Sampson. “The team normally puts in seven to eight hours a week but individually we may put in a little more,” said McHugh. As a freshman in search of chicken in the Student Union, junior marketing major Derrick Ware did not know he would end up with the team.”I just smelled some chicken. I was hungry. When I found out where the smell was coming from I ran upon a quiz bowl scrimmage and was asked to give it a try. I’ve been affiliated with the quiz bowl team ever since,” said Ware.Over the last 10 to 15 years quiz bowl called many different departments home, but it has primarily resided in the hands of student affairs.Every year student affairs hosts a campus tournament seeking out new team members. Through a process of elimination in about three rounds, five students out of 40 are chosen to represent A&T in the regional in hopes to go on to the national tournament.”The biggest thing is making it available for these guys,” said Brown. “A lot of times we ask sororities, fraternities and other student organizations to send some people over to a scrimmage.”Team members admit that a lot of students are interested in quiz bowl once they hear about the perks. Over the recent years quiz bowl teams have traveled to Orlando, Fla., for the national tournament and have received A&T paraphernalia. “We get a lot of perks and recognition from the faculty, but the thing I value most is the friendship and comradory. I got a chance to meet and bond with people that I probably would have never met otherwise because we all have different majors and are from different places,” said Ware.For more information about Quiz Bowl, contact student affairs at 334-7676 or visit the Student Union.

• Heather Phillips