Although there were high hopes for the Grambling State University Quiz Bowl Team in this year’s Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, the team lost in the first round to Norfolk State University, Sunday, March 22.
“We played six matches, I was kind of nervous to begin with, but as we kept playing it just got more competitive and I wasn’t nervous at all,” said Dave Fields, a three-year team member and first-year captain. “My teammates are all new so I know they were all nervous.”
The GSU Quiz Bowl team placed first in their division, Louis Armstrong, which consists of GSU, Alabama State University, Hampton University, North Carolina A&T State University, Shaw University and Southern University – New Orleans. In order to travel to Torrance, the Quiz Bowl team won at the challenge, which was held at Prairie View A&M University. GSU lost to Norfolk State but Prairie View won it all.
They are the 2015 National Champions.
“We prepared by having practices three times a week,” said Fields, a junior nursing major from Mililani, Hawaii. “We were first in our division and made it to the playoffs, but we lost against Norfolk State University.”
The playoffs consisted of the top 16 teams out of the 48 teams in attendance.
“I feel we did what we could it just wasn’t in the cards against Norfolk State,” said John Carter, a first-year member of the Quiz Bowl team. “I feel we did a great job overall job in the tournament.”
The Quiz Bowl team is looking to do better in future challenges now that they know what they are capable of achieving.
“Our motto is ‘give 110 percent,’” said Fields. “Try to motivate each other to study outside of practice and all.”
“Through tough practices during the year we prepared and shared much knowledge and used each other’s strengths,” said Carter, a freshman history major from Pinetown, North Carolina. “I believe we will come back to national next year. We have a good team returning and we all will know what we have to do to win."