By Hadassa Ferreira, Contributor Writer.
Many would argue that few things are funnier than a competitive spirit, and Saint Leo University proved them right!
The 2024 edition of the Saint Leo Brain Bowl Tournament took place on Wednesday, April 10, bringing together eight private high schools from the Tampa Bay area to compete in a thrilling round of trivia.
The event took place in the Wellness Center throughout the morning and early afternoon, hosted by the Saint Leo College of Arts and Sciences and overseen by Professor Frank Orlando from the political sciences department.
The Brain Bowl tournament has been a longstanding tradition at Saint Leo University. It involves a trivia question game structured into five rounds, each comprising 20 questions lasting approximately 20 minutes with a two-minute intermission, culminating in the final round.
This year, all eight schools played four rounds to earn points and move up in the rankings. The top two schools competed in the final for a chance to win a book scholarship at Saint Leo University.
“I have been working with this event since the first time we did it, and it is one of my favorite events that we do all year,” said Professor Stephen Okey, a Saint Leo religion professor.
He also added, “It is great for presenting Saint Leo for the wider community, especially for the local Catholic high schools, and I think it is a great opportunity to see the finest talents at those schools.”
The Brain Bowl game comprises questions on various topics including history, geography, mathematics, English grammar, religion, pop culture, and politics.
Since the questions cover general knowledge, the audience can feel a special and exciting connection to the game because they may know some of the answers.
This year, it was fascinating to observe the audience, primarily composed of parents, teachers, and coaches, being just as excited and engaged with the game as the students.
The Brain Bowl tournament is the kind of event that fosters a sense of community not only among private high school students from the Tampa Bay area but also among Saint Leo students.
The tournament had Saint Leo honors students, who played a significant role on the staff. They were highly engaged with the game and ensured that the visiting students had a fantastic time.
“It was a fun event,” said Ryann Dunn, an honors student majoring in international studies with a double minor in legal studies and philosophy.
“It is a great opportunity for the students from the local high schools, whether they come from St Petersburg or Clearwater, to come to a local university and also interact with each other,” continued Dunn.
While the initial rounds were intense, standout teams included Clearwater Central Catholic High School, the Academy of the Holy Names, and Jesuit High School.
Clearwater Central Catholic High School had claimed victory for the past two years, while Jesuit High School had reached the finals and secured second place last year.
These three teams consistently scored over 300 points in most rounds, placing them significantly ahead of the competition.
In the final round, it was the Academy of the Holy Names versus Jesuit High School. The competition was intense, but Jesuit High School emerged as the winners. Their team included Diego Tobon (captain), Daniel Dewey, Hendrix Bromberg, Jacob Judson, Nicolas Miranda, and Rhys Marriott.
“It was definitely awesome to participate in something like this,” said Judson, a junior at Jesuit High School. “Our team has done competitions before, and we believe every time we do it, we improve. So, this opportunity, today, at Saint Leo was nice.”
Academic competitions can sometimes feel tough and draining, but the Brain Bowl aims to prove that learning valuable and relevant knowledge can be enjoyable and thrilling.
It is an excellent chance for students to participate in a fun activity that boosts both their competitive and team spirit. Moreover, it allows them to have a good time while putting their learning to the test, not just from academic courses but also in their everyday lives.
