The beginning of April marked the end of the scholastic bowl team season with the team just barely missing sectionals after being led be a brand new coach.

 This year the scholastic bowl team was led by science teacher Nicole Schlemmer. Schlemmer was great for the job, leading the team to many victories and picking them back up after a loss.  

  Junior Jubraan Alkhalaf shared, “Having a new coach went very well, as many of the players have previously had her as a teacher.

  Alkhalaf’s feelings weren’t his alone.

  Junior Lisandra Calderon said, “It was really easy to bond.” 

  The team dedicated itself to becoming competitive this year and attended more meets to do so. With attending many more meets, they had to learn to adapt and improve faster. They each had to study harder and become more focused and serious about how they approached meets. 

  According to Alkhalaf, “It was much bigger and better since we went to a lot more matches to practice for we had to work extra hard.”  

 Alkhalaf has been doing scholastic bowl since he was in middle school with his brother, senior Yamaan Alkhalaf. He plans to continue next year to finish his scholastic bowl career as a senior.    

  For some, it was their first time having back to back games and it threw some of them for a loop. 

  Calderon said, “We definitely had more meets this year and played more schools at a time. It was more stressful but it also made it much more rewarding when we would do well.”  

  The team made some major moves this season going to more meets than in years prior and placing very well in them with a 14-12 record, and placing third in conference. They made it to the semifinals but lost by a mere 10 points. The players were very good this year and didn’t let anything stop them from improving. They always went to their meets with the mindset to win and that was how they won. 

  The team plans to go to state next year and win even though they are losing some of their big hitters. The juniors and underclassmen are training with even more power and concentration than last year to be able to make up for it.