Virtual Academic Challenge Meets A Big Success
During the last week of October, Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center was proud to host opening Academic Challenge competitions in the new virtual format. Students competed as teams, answering questions about a wide range of topics including literature, fine arts, geography, history, math, and science.
On Monday, October 26th, 8 districts competed in a scrimmage as a “soft start” to the 2020 High School Fall League Competition. The first league night was November 2nd with two additional dates to follow. A league Varsity and Junior Varsity winner is anticipated to be announced on November 23rd.
On Tuesday, October 27th, two districts, Crestview and Plymouth-Shiloh, with a total of 6 teams of 5th and 6th graders participated in a fully virtual “Throwback Tournament.” Leanna Ferreira, Gifted Student Consultant and coordinator of the Academic Challenge meets, said the kids adapted quickly. “As the tournament moved on everyone became more comfortable and tech savvy, such that our rounds became increasingly faster and we ultimately completed 5 rounds in the anticipated amount of time.”
Plymouth-Shiloh A was the first place team with members Rylie Edwards, Kaden Caughenbaugh, Kansas Huston, Katlyn Swingle, and Addison Slone. Crestview A was the second place team with Drew Ramsey, Kennedy Lehman, Allison Volz, Deryn Moore, Maycee Tackett, and Jess Ames.
On Wednesday, October 28th, three districts with a total of 8 teams of 7th and 8th graders participated in a tournament like their younger counterparts the day before. Colonel Crawford had 2 teams, one winning second place. Crestview had 4 teams, including the first place team, and Lexington had 2 teams. For this tournament, Lexington elected to bring their teams and reader to Mid-Ohio ESC where they were hosted while participating in the fully virtual tournament.
The first place team was Crestview A with Leah Smith, Mia Humrichouser, Liam Kuhn, Keith Abshire, Drew Spoerr, and Kaleb Horsley. The second place team was Colonel Crawford B with members Jon Poland, Koehler Fuller, Dylan Hipsher, Kamden Phelps, Andrew Heinle, and Ian Gonzales.
Ferreira said, “I consider this first round of virtual Academic Challenge Tournaments a huge success. Not only did students quickly adapt to the virtual buzzers and online format, but they were fully engaged! We are looking forward to hosting more districts and teams starting in January for grades 4 through 8.”
She continued, “I was cautiously optimistic about this new format going into the tournaments and following these events I am excited and relieved that my optimism was well-placed and that the tournaments went so well and nearly seamlessly.”