GCC hosts spring quiz bowl tournament

By CHARITY SMITH

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Ironwood - Sixteen teams from 11 regional school districts participated in the annual Spring High School Quiz Bowl at Gogebic Community College on Thursday.

Hurley, Ironwood, Bessemer, and Wakefield-Marenisco each sent two teams to the tournament. Calumet, Chassell, Hancock, Houghton, West Iron County and Phillips, Wisconsin, were also represented.

The teams faced off against each other through the morning on all sorts of questions. Subjects included math, science, literature, history and others.

Because of the variety of topics, Carl Vaara, event organizer and retired GCC math instructor, said that the teams work best if they have one person who is good at each subject. He said that the kids will find an interest in one particular subject and just study it so that they know that well. Each team should have someone who is good at math, someone who loves science, someone who loves literature, he said.

"These kids are amazing," said Vaara.

The teams were divided into four divisions and the best team from each division faced off in the semifinals. All teams were treated to a pizza lunch before the semifinal round.

The final four teams were Ironwood I, Houghton I, Bessemer I and West Iron County. West Iron County and Houghton reached the final, where West Iron County took home the championship trophy with a score of 435-200. Houghton I received the runner-up trophy.

The college sponsors the event annually along with one in the fall.

Vaara has organized the event for more than 20 years. Former math instructor Larry Hopkins, forestry instructor Bill Perkis, and Director of Student Outreach and Engagement and Phi Theta Kappa advisor Dayle Jackson also assisted with the event.