Scholastic Bowl is a game played by two teams of five players each who try to answer a combination of toss up and bonus questions on a myriad of topics. The Coal City Middle School Scholastic Bowl team is rather good, in fact they are heading into the conference tournament with an 11-0 record.
The 16 member varsity team is comprised of sixth to eighth graders with a vast knowledge on multiple subjects from geometry to geography. Coach Jim Hitchcock said the team has players who excel in several areas, be it math and science or language arts and social studies.
Questions are based on six categories —science, math, social studies, language arts, fine arts and miscellaneous. Within in those categories the questions related to earth, general, life and physical science; health; algebra, computers, general math, geometry, civics, economics, current events, geography, history, grammar, literature, vocabulary, art, drama, music, agriculture, consumer and family science, industrial technology, physical fitness, movies, popular music, sports, television, pop culture and spelling.
Teams are presented with a series of toss up questions in each of the six categories and points are scored by the first team that buzzes in with a correct answer. The right answer affords a team a chance at bonus questions. Toss up questions are valued at 10 points each and the four part bonus questions are 5 points each—up to 20 points.. So far this season, the Coalers have racked up 3,315 points in 11 matches; their opponents scores tally just 1,598.
Members of the team are Mel Leman, Ben Manering, Tess Jeschke, Abi Rose, Jackson Hollis, Damion Libner, Cameron Haas, Henry Fritz, Kolton Kucera, Brady Pierson, Tyson Harding, Grace Sitar, Carson Dearth, Xavier Baer, Travis Blatzheim and Jaiden Leman who holds the Scholastic Bowl record for toss up points scored—800 during the 2023 season, as well as single points in a match—90.
The Scholastic Bowl season begins with practices in January ahead of the first match in February. The season runs through the Illinois Elementary School Association [IESA] State Finals at the beginning of May.
This year the Coalers are hosting the Illinois Valley Conference East Tournament and both the Regional and Sectional meets. The conference meet will get underway around 4:15 p.m. today, Wednesday, April 10. The Coalers first match is expected to start around 5:15 p.m. Also competing will be teams from Reed-Custer, Wilmington, Morris District 54 and Channahon
The Coalers are looking to repeat their success from last season when they won both the regional and sectional and advanced to the Elite Eight.
Coaching along with Hitchcock is Jennifer Munsterman.