Throughout the year, the three MSMS Quiz Bowl teams participated in multiple tournaments, in-state and out-of-state, won the NAQT MS State Championships for the third year running, won two additional tournaments and hosted two of their own on the Mississippi University for Women’s campus.
With three teams competing this year, the MSMS Quiz Bowl Club had many volunteers and participants to host their own tournaments. The first MSMS-held tournament of the year was the Towery McNeil Tribute in October and the second was February MSMS Spring Invitational II.
Quiz Bowl co-captain Jules Gallo said hosting tournaments helps the team earn money and make MSMS known as a destination for future competitions.
“Hosting tournaments is a long process for me. We have to talk to sponsors about how dates work, send schedules for NAQT, enlist competing teams, make sure the rooms are set up, create a bracket and provide food,” Gallo said. “We make sure stats are kept the entire time. I was able to have Olivia Cochran, who will be outreach coordinator next year, to help me.”
Before the Quiz Bowl National Championship occurs in late May, the MSMS A team currently stands in the national ranking at 86th place.
The moment Gallo said he was proudest of this year was from a match against White Station, a team from Memphis, Tennessee, at Ole Miss in February. MSMS A team lost, but there was only a score difference of 265-255, and the team had fun during the game.
“I call the timeout and we sang a chorus of ‘Last Christmas.’ Unfortunately, we just were just not able to make up the gap and we ended up losing out on some points, but that’s just sort of what it is. It’s that MSMS A is fun.” Gallo said.
Gallo said he has plans for how the Quiz Bowl team could change for future years.
“What we’re doing differently this year is taking away the position of president entirely and essentially making six people … coordinators,” Gallo said. “Someone’s going to be in charge of the academic team. [Other coordinators] are going to be in charge of finances, hosting tournaments, hosting events, social media and hosting meetings. I wanted to maybe not do a second Trash Bowl but do other big community events.”
Senior Quiz Bowl member Jackson Williams said the team did great competitively, but there’s work to be done.
“I wish we had been more active in the general MSMS community, and that’s the direction Jules and Noah are steering Quiz Bowl next year,” Williams said.
As the senior participants graduate, the juniors are getting the metaphorical torch passed down to them.
Junior Quiz Bowl member Olivia Cochran said Quiz Bowl as a team and community was phenomenal.
“I think that as the year progressed, we were able to really connect with one another and become better players and people by the end,” Cochran said. “Many of my fondest memories from this year are from Quiz Bowl, and I hope that we carry the same energy into the future.”
The MSMS A team will participate in the Quiz Bowl National Championship, which will take place May 24-26 in Atlanta, Georgia.
