The Quizbowl Resource Center

This is our first announcement for the CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL TOURNAMENT in Ellicott City, Maryland to be held on Sunday, November 6, 2016 at 8:30 AM (one day after the SATs).

For our 12th annual tournament, we will be using NAQT IS-161A set. ​​​​​​This question set is an INTRODUCTORY set written to accommodate new players, so this tournament will be ideal for teams new to quiz bowl or new members of established teams. These questions can also help to hone rapid buzzing skills for more experienced teams and players.

We are applying for Gold Certification from PACE and we are using an NAQT set.
TRANSLATION: 20% of the TOTAL high school teams will be eligible from the varsity side for the PACE Nationals in Chicago, IL. Based on last year (field of 66 JV + varsity), this will mean 14 teams (all derived from the upper "varsity" bracket). 15% of the total number of high school teams will be eligible for the NAQT Nationals (HSNCT) in Atlanta, GA. Based on last year (field of 66), we anticipate 10 teams (all derived from the upper "varsity" bracket.

Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend, even the most experienced teams. Like last year, we are planning to have a novice field composed of teams with 9th and 10th graders OR teams of ANY AGE less experienced to Quizbowl and a varsity field composed of experienced teams. The novice field will have its own trophies but will not be eligible for the NAQT and PACE championship tournaments. Obviously teams can elect to participate in the varsity regardless of players' age and experience. We are using this format in order to avoid the 660 to 10 scores in mismatched contests that are frustrating for all involved.

As we did last year we will group the MIDDLE SCHOOL teams into their own bracket or parallel competition! Elementary Teams are welcome to participate in the Middle School Division.

LAST YEAR, 96 TEAMS SIGNED UP AND WE TURNED AWAY THE LATE REQUESTERS. We cannot expand beyond that number due to the physical size of the school.

Like last year, we are expecting all teams to stay for the rounds after lunch, and we will require reregistration at lunch to verify afternoon participation.

Registration will begin at 8 a.m., and we will provide our traditional breakfast banquet. For those teams wishing to stay on site for lunch pizza will be sold at registration.

We will have a coaches/parents' round during lunch with fossils/minerals as prizes, the proceeds of which will be donated to the Howard County Special Olympics.

The cost for teams participating in the tournament is $75 for the first team and $65 for each extra team from the same school. Teams can bring a working buzzer for a $10 discount (but only one buzzer set per team entered).

Centennial High School is located at 4300 Centennial Lane, Ellicott City, MD 21042

To register, e-mail [email protected] with the number of teams AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHICH BRACKET (VARSITY, NOVICE, OR MIDDLE SCHOOL) YOU WANT TO BE IN, buzzers, e-mail address, and telephone number where we can contact you on the day of the tournament in case of inclement weather. Feel free to share this announcement with other teams that might be interested in attending.
Eric and Sara Seifter, Coaches, Centennial High School It's Academic

Here is a running list of entrants to the tournament:

VARSITY
Charter Wilmington - 3
Churchill - 1
Clover Hill - 1
Glenelg - 1
Gunston School - 1
Langley - 1
Manheim Township - 2
McLean - 1
Montgomery Blair - 2
North Hagerstown - 2
Parkdale - 1
Quince Orchard - 1
Richard Montgomery - 2
Robinson - 1
Severna Park - 1
St. Anselm's - 1
Thomas Jefferson - 2
TOTAL: 24

NOVICE (JV + teams willing to forego national tournament eligibility for easier opponents: recommended for teams with less experience on the Quizbowl circuit)
Charter Wilmington - 1
Easton - 1
Franklin - 1
Gar-Field - 1
Glenelg - 1
Hammond - 3
JTCC - 1
Langley - 2
Manheim Township - 2
Marriotts Ridge - 1
McDonagh - 2
Mt. Hebron - 4
Mt. Vernon - 1
Norfolk Academic Guild - 2
North Hagerstown - 1
Oakland Mills - 1
Old Mill - 1
Perry Hall - 2
Richard Montgomery - 5
Robinson - 1
Severn - 1
Severna Park - 2
St. Anselm's - 1
Thomas Jefferson - 2
Washington Latin - 1
Wilson - 1
TOTAL: 42

MIDDLE SCHOOL/ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Burleigh Manor Middle - 12
Centennial Elementary - 11
Clarksville Middle - 2
Cooper Middle - 1
Kilmer Middle - 1
Longfellow - 2
Mount View Middle - 2
Norfolk Academic Guild - 2
Robinson Middle - 2
St. Anselm's - 1
TOTAL: 36

GRAND TOTAL: 102

We have received Platinum Certification from PACE and we are using an NAQT set.
TRANSLATION: 25% of the TOTAL high school teams will be eligible from the varsity side for the PACE Nationals in Chicago, IL. Based on last year (field of 66 JV + varsity), this will mean 14 teams (all derived from the upper "varsity" bracket). 15% of the total number of high school teams will be eligible for the NAQT Nationals (HSNCT) in Atlanta, GA. Based on last year (field of 66), we anticipate 10 teams (all derived from the upper "varsity" bracket.

We have reached the 50% point with 45 teams. We cannot handle more than 90 teams due to room constraints.
We will create a Waiting List after that point.

With 3.5 weeks to go, we have 64 teams registered.
We will start a waiting list after we hear from 24 more teams.
Please reserve your spot soon. We realize that this is pretty far out from the tournament to be sending such a warning.
Please remember that teams of juniors and seniors may opt to play in the Novice bracket. You may find more equally competitive matches and a better chance for winning a trophy. On the other hand, you will not be eligible for any National Tournaments.
If you are not angling for a national tournament bid, and if you are not a regular on the Quizbowl circuit, we do recommend the Novice division.

With 2 1/2 weeks left, we have filled our 90 slots.
We are now working on the wait-list. Historically, teams have filled in from the wait-list as the roster changes closer to the event.

The Centennial Tournament has expanded to 100 teams. In the prior listing of teams, 101 are listed but we will collapse a Centennial Lane team to make room if there are no other dropouts.
We have requested team rosters and pizza estimates. Contact us at [email protected] if you have not heard from us about this request. We have 2 teams on the Wait-List and welcome others to be listed.
25% of the TOTAL high school teams will be eligible from the varsity side for the PACE Nationals in Chicago, IL. Since we have a field of 66 Novice + Varsity, this will mean 16 teams (all derived from the upper "Varsity" bracket). 15% of the total number of high school teams will be eligible for the NAQT Nationals (HSNCT) in Atlanta, GA which means 10 teams (all derived from the upper "Varsity" bracket).

Final field of 102 teams has been posted for tomorrow. Please note changes in the field with last minute dropouts and insertions.

This is a post about Eligibility for national bids in the Varsity field.
We had 66 teams for the high school component. 15% for HSNCT equals 10 teams as follows:
1. TJ A
2. Blair A
3. RM A
4. TJ B
5. Manheim A
6. QO
7. Charter A
8. Churchill
9. McLean
10. RM B
25% for PACE equals 17 Teams. Take the top 10 above and add:
11. Blair B
12. St. Anselm's A
13. Langley A
14. Charter B
15. Manheim B
16. Charter C
17. Robinson A
Congratulations to the Varsity medalists from 1 to 4:
TJ A
Blair A
RM A
TJ B
We omitted the final game between TJ B versus RM A won by RM A 375 to 340.
We will enter that into the stats in the next week when we recover from hosting 102 Teams.

In the novice field, congratulations to our 4 medalists:
1. TJ C
2. RM C
3. Norfolk Acad. Guild A
4. Hammond A

Congratulations to our Middle School medalists:
1. Norfolk Academic Guild C
2. Longfellow A
3. Burleigh A
4. Burleigh C