THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 23, 1996 TAG: 9603230298
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PHYLLIS SPEIDELL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Shelby Savage, captain of the Poquoson academic challenge team, took a deep breath, pressed his buzzer, and nervously but correctly answered the final, tie-breaking question to win the regional Tidewater Academic Challenge tournament.
In an academic version of March Madness, the tournament at Churchland High School brought together the city champions from Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News, Hampton, Gloucester and Poquoson.
In the tournament's final round Friday, Poquoson and Newport News, represented by Warwick High School, competed closely in what was almost a replay of last year's tournament. In 1995, Warwick High School edged out Poquoson for the win by only 10 points.
This year, the Poquoson team takes the trophy and the chance to compete in the American Scholastic Competition in Chicago. Half of its entry fee will be paid by the Tidewater Academic Challenge committee.
``We are going,'' the Poquoson team said in unison.
``The Chicago competition is something I have wanted to do since I heard about it two years ago,'' said junior Ryan Hall, a member of the Poquoson team.
In addition to Hall and Savage, the Poquoson finalists included Philo Juang and Ben Goldman. The team is coached by Poquoson teacher Tom Fay, who has also coached the school's basketball and football teams.
Hours of practice, scrimmage matches, devotion to the television game show ``Jeopardy!'' and frequent rounds of Trivial Pursuit were part of the practice that made perfect. With questions as diverse as naming the capital of Spain or calculating mathematical problems loaded with x's, y's, and square roots, the competition demands a broad span of knowledge.
Academics are important, but the teams also worked on remaining cool under pressure, handling the buzzer and working as a team.
``Playing along with `Jeopardy!' helps because it gives you the chance to try to answer questions quickly, as fast as you need to in these matches,'' said Ben Velez, a Churchland High School team member.
`` `Jeopardy!' questions are usually easier than the ones we get here,'' said Kirsten Aymer, one of Velez's teammates. ``Because we don't usually have categories of questions, we never know what is coming up next, and we need to focus quickly.''
``You have to work together as a team if you are going to succeed,'' Matt Archer, captain of the Gloucester team, said. ``Each of us is strong in certain areas, and they are asking for mastery in so many different areas.''
``Most of these kids are well-rounded, not just typical eggheads, and they still want to learn,'' said Beverly C. Jackson, the tournament coordinator.
In addition to Poquoson and Warwick, Hampton Roads cities were represented in the tournament by Gloucester High School, Great Bridge High School, Kempsville High School, Churchland High School, Maury High School and Kecoughtan High School. ILLUSTRATION: MARK MITCHELL
The Virginian-Pilot
As his teammate Ryan Hall watches, Shelby Savage of Poquoson reacts
to his own incorrect answer to a question. The team went on to win
the competition, held Friday night at Churchland High School in
Portsmouth.
by CNB