The GFWC Nebraska Federation of Women’s Clubs (NFWC) Hosts Statewide High School Quiz Bowl

May 10, 2024

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There were 58 area High School Quiz Bowl teams that competed at the recent “End of the Year” High School Quiz Bowl Tourney for “Underclassmen Only!” It was held in Seward at the Hillcrest Living Word Lutheran Church at 1300 West Hillcrest Drive on May 1^st, 2024.   The event started with a general meeting on the rules of the “General Knowledge” Quiz Bowl and the first rounds began at 9:00 am. 

In the morning, each team played an average of three rounds to “warm up” and then an afternoon, single elimination tourney was held, featuring questions on art, literature, science, history, grammar, math and economics.  The students were asked up to 40 toss-up and 40 bonus questions per round.  The questions were purchased in advance from Academic Hallmarks. 

The teams were seeded in the afternoon, single elimination tourney based on wins and losses in the morning, points generated and highest point total.  Schools were divided based on their NSAA assessed student count.

Winners included

Large School: Champion-Elkhorn High-Coached by Melissa Peterson, Second Place –Gretna High Team A-Coached by Richard Arch, Third Place was Elkhorn North Team A-Coached by Melissa Peterson and Fourth was Elkhorn South Team A-coached by Melissa Peterson

Medium School: Champion –Malcom-Coached by Troy Pritchett , Second –Raymond Central Coached by Courtney Palak, Third –Central City-Coached by Brandon Wright, and Fourth –Oakland/Craig Team A-Coached by Michael Menish.

Small School: Champion – Henderson Heartland Team A-Coached by Heidi Ruhl, Second-Exeter/Milligan-Team A -Coached by Jordan Marr, Third-McCool Junction Team A-Coached by Gabe Wurtz and Fourth-McCool Junction-Team B-Coached by Wurtz.

Readers for the quiz bowl included volunteer Readers/Judges Dana Nottingham, Bonnie Kruse, Sue Imig, Pat Ohlman, Nancy Schulz all from Seward, Stan and Nancy Meyer from Geneva, Kathy Wilcox from Crete, and Jenni Erhart from Osceola.  Diane Uher of Clarkson Womans Club officially represented the GFWC NFWC at the event and served as the host.  GFWC Seward Woman’s Club hosted the luncheon for coaches and judges-Chaired by Rene’ Chandler, assisted by Ellen Chaffin. Riley Nuttleman served as the Quiz Bowl Master and Clark Kolterman of Seward Coordinated the activity.

Schools attending included Dorchester, Shelby-Rising City, Hampton, Bruning Davenport, Henderson Heartland, Johnson Brock, Sandy Creek, Friend, McCool Junction, Howells Dodge, Nebraska Lutheran, Exeter-Milligan, Milford, Raymond Central, Central City, Fillmore Central, West Point, Malcolm, Oakland Craig, Tri-County, Falls City, Seward, York, Gretna, Gretna East, Crete, Elkhorn, Elkhorn North, Elkhorn South, and Ralston.

“We so appreciate that the Living Word Lutheran Church at 1300 West Hillcrest,  has opened up their entire facility to our event and acknowledge and thank them for their support –allowing us to showcase some of the top middle school students in Nebraska,” commented Seward’s Riley Nuttleman. “With the Civic Center closed for remodeling for a year, we are very happy that this wonderful church has allowed us to compete at their facility.  Thank you Living Word Lutheran Church!”