Ankeny High School JV Quiz Bowl Team Places Second at International Championships After Dramatic Run
From L to R: Jack Ponton, Drew Coleman, Carter Ross, Nolan Gentry, Anders Repp and Eli Pattee
Ankeny High School’s JV Quiz Bowl team clinched second place at the prestigious 42nd International Academic Championships! This impressive feat marks the team’s second international runner-up title, mirroring their success in 2022. Notably, some of these students were part of last year’s National Championship-winning middle school team.
Their road to victory was nothing short of thrilling. After conquering the Virtual Regional Championship in May (beating teams from Ohio, New York, Arkansas, and the UAE), Ankeny entered the International Quarterfinals as the 4th seed. They then delivered a nail-biting win against Dubai on the very last question! The momentum continued in the semifinals, where they shocked everyone by defeating the powerhouse Little Rock Central (the #1 seed) – again, on the final question!
This set the stage for a rematch with Gadsden, Alabama, the team Ankeny previously beat to claim Iowa’s first National Quiz Bowl Championship. While Ankeny held the lead until the 3rd quarter, Gadsden ultimately emerged victorious, securing their first National Title.
The competition tested the students’ knowledge across a wide range of subjects, including history, geography, science, arts, and more. Coach Coombes expressed immense pride in his team’s dedication and competitive spirit, stating, “It’s amazing and exciting to see their energy and motivation for learning!”