What Happens to DC-Area Quizbowl Next Year?

[Lawrence Simon]

We played them at the only HSAPQ Regionals that I was aware of in February. The tournament was attended by 6 teams who played a double round robin so we played them twice in the prelims. They ended up going 10-1, losing to us once in the prelims before beating us in the final match. I know that the 8-8-8 format isn't optimal but they definitely showed that they're still a very strong team. I doubt anyone was beginning to doubt that but I thought I'd say it nonetheless. Weijia also made it on the Maryland NASAT team. Also they've already registered 2 teams for HSNCT and 3 for PACE so definitely look forward to seeing wreck at both competitions.

[The Stately Rhododendron]

Don't want to speak for Centennial too much, but they've never gone to that many tournaments.

[wcheng]

Well, the last time I checked, our team hasn't disappeared. We're going to Blue Hen (albeit with only half the normal A team), the BHSAT mirror at Blair, and then HERMES this month, so expect to see our team more often. I have to admit that we haven't exactly appeared at too many major tournaments recently, though.

[John Heslin]

I would add that there was a bit of a mid-yesr lull in local NAQT tournaments. In the mean time we won two National History Bowl Regionals (and qualified 6 teams for nationals) and performed decently in the ACF Regional College Competition at UVA without our full team. In keeping with our traditions, we also won two non-pyramidal tournaments and two TV matches. In addition to the two tournaments Weijia mentioned, we are registered for the Maryland NAQT Championship at College Park and are considering the TJ and JHU tournaments on the weekend of 4/18.

[John Heslin]

To correct my previous post and give proper credit, we placed second to Richard Montgomery in the National History Bowl Washington, DC Regional. However, we did take both 1st and 2nd place in two National History Bee Regionals. (Weijia and Ryan in different orders)

[Pancreatic Stork]

With nationals approaching soon, I’d like to somewhat revive this thread with some of my own opinions of teams in the region. This year's crop of teams has been one of the deepest in a number of years, and arguably one of the strongest, if not the strongest, region this year. With 11 top 100 teams in the Morlan Rankings, including 3 in the top 10, tournaments have been hard-fought and fraught with nail-biting games. Come nationals, I expect teams from this region to be some of the highest ranking teams in the nation, and we might even see one come out of it with a championship.

The following teams are grouped into the different tiers I have observed. Here we go:

Tier 1: National Contenders - Each of these three teams posses the tools to compete for a national championship come this May and June (NOTE: this is the only unranked tier with each team too close in strength to be properly ordered)

Western Albemarle High School (Crozet, VA)

While this team hasn’t gone to many tournaments this year, they have come closest to the mountain top of any team in this region placing 2nd at last year’s PACE. Eric Xu is still there and this time without a science weakness. I don’t need to go on about Eric, because I think its quite clear that he’s the best player in the country without any sort of hole in his game. What’s new however is improved contributions from his supporting cast. That plus Eric’s deep knowledge of history, literature, and the fine arts will power them past most teams, and if Eric can split the science they can take on any team. Don’t be surprised if this team becomes the first singly dominated team to win a national.

Richard Montgomery High School A (Rockville, MD)

A quite dominant team last year, RM returns the core of their team (Gabe, Farah, and Ben) and brings up Trinish, who bolsters their team in a number of subjects. While they are led by one of the best lit/fine arts players in the country with Gabe, their other members are formidable in their own right: a dominant biochem player in Farah, a strong NAQT specialist/history player in Ben, and idk what Trinish specializes in but he’s hella good. They are hands down the most balanced team in the region which has translated into the fact that they don’t have any particular weaknesses. While last year’s team may have struggled with scaling to harder difficulties last year, this team doesn’t and instead possesses one of the region's best PPBs and power rates across any set. When this team gets clicking, they’ll be a tough out and could likely be the last team standing when the dust clears.

Maggie L. Walker Governor's School (Richmond, VA)

Of the top teams, MW has had the biggest shakeup in terms of their roster, replacing half their team from last year. However, despite that MW has greatly improved by covering their biggest weaknesses, literature and science. This year’s team has also become a bit more egalitarian in scoring, with scoring distributed among its top 3 players who each specialize in their own section of the Big 3 subject. Will’s improvement in science has been scary to see, Connor is Connor meaning he’s quite good at this game, and I help out with the literature. MW also scales well with difficulty posting high PPBs and power rates even at the college level. However, despite having the tools to compete for a championship, they also have the biggest chance in faltering due in part to the roster being unfamiliar in playing with one another until this year. Despite that volatility, this team possesses some of the deepest knowledge in the region and the country, especially in history and science.

Tier 1B: Elite - really only one team

Centennial High School (Ellicott City, MD)

With a late season spree of tournaments, Centennial has proven why they were deemed a top team in the beginning of the year. Possessing tremendous balance among its four members, Centennial can hang on with any team. With strong literature and science specialists in Gary and Jason respectively and a formidable history duo in Ryan and Weijia, Centennial lacks any significant weakness. At the same time, they also possess a preternatural ability to post high PPBs, like seriously it’s scary how well they convert their bonuses. However, their lack of wins against top tier teams has lowered their stock slightly. Despite that however, don’t be surprised if this team ends up placing higher than a team in the top tier at nationals.

Tier 2: Spoilers - These teams are strong, but just fall slightly below the top teams in the circuit. However, each are capable of taking games off the top teams.

Quince Orchard High School (Gaithersburg, MD)

The improvement of QO throughout the year has been quite amazing to see. From a team that was in the periphery of second tier teams, this team has shot upward. One big reason has been Lawrence’s improvement as a generalist, expanding from his main history and literature specialties to cover a wider range of subjects. The other big reason has been his teammates improvement. Natalie supports Lawrence in lit/fine arts and the tandem of Tanay and Henry allows them to compete on the science. While this team may be ranked lower than the teams below it in terms of PPB, QO has performed the best against the teams above it. This team is very much in the mix to place in the top 25.

Montgomery Blair High School (Silver Spring, MD)

This team has stayed consistent for the most part this year. A definite top bracket team at any tournament in the region, they win against teams they’re better than on paper and lose to teams better than them on paper. Arjuna leads this team covering a wide range of subjects and is usually in the running for a scoring prize at any tournament. However, don’t let his scoring distract you from the fact that this team is pretty balanced. Cathy usually takes on the load of second scorer helping the team with her biochem knowledge with the rest of the team filling gaps in history and literature. While they may struggle against higher difficulties, this team can definitely finish in the top 30 at either nationals.

Georgetown Day School (Washington, D.C)

At the end this ranking may be a bit low for this team. However, the lack of tournament results from this team especially with them as a full team makes it hard to judge them accurately. However, despite that it’s clear this team is good, and possesses one of, if not, the highest ceilings among this group of teams. The duo of Noah and Tajin is a terrifying sight with the two capable of locking down history and lit in any given packet, while Ned has carved out a role as a dependable 3rd scorer. Having won Maryland Fall early in the year against RM and Centennial, this team is definitely capable of a deep run and placing in the top 25.

Tier 3: Skilled - These teams are capable of beating most middling teams and all can average 20 PPB. However, they fall short of being able to beat higher skilled teams.

Richard Montgomery High School B (Rockville, MD)

This is the best B-team in the region by a mile. Led by strong specialists in lit and history with Yu and Alex respectively, this team can take on any team in this tier and can be a challenge to teams in the tier above. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like this team will play at either nationals. However, if they did I wouldn’t be surprised if they placed in the top 50 nationally.

Albemarle High School (Charlottesville, VA)

After playing a couple of tournaments last year, this team has definitely broken out this year taking sole position as the 3rd best team in Virginia. This team is led by two strong generalist-like players in Quinn and Luke. Quinn has strong science and lit knowledge, while Luke focuses more on history and the humanities. Their supporting players also help to fill in the rest of their gaps. This being their first fully year of competition may go against their chances of placing high, but this team has the ability to attempt a top 50 finish

Thomas Jefferson High School (Alexandria, VA)

Ryan has improved tremendously this year and has led his team to the top bracket in every tournament they’ve gone to in this region. His strong generalist ability coupled with strong science and fine arts knowledge allows his team to shuffle players around to find the perfect fit. However, that search is still on-going with it being hard to pinpoint a definite TJ A member apart from Ryan. They are a definite top 100 team, but if this team can solidify its core players, it definitely has a chance to break into the top 50.

Loudoun County High School (Leesburg, VA)

Despite Mason’s departure after last year, this team has been able to rebuild mainly in part to Reese’s presence. With his strong literature and fine arts knowledge, he has led his team to multiple top bracket finishes across numerous tournaments. The development of supporting players in Jack and Adrian have also helped to fill in those gaps. However, this team will most likely struggle at higher difficulties in subjects not lit or fine arts. Despite that this is a definite top 100 team.

Cave Spring High School A (Roanoke, VA)

Despite James Cole’s graduation last year, CS has bounced back on the back of sophomore Ethan Mackey and his strong supporting cast. While not as good as the teams above them, it wouldn’t surprise me if this team improves a lot next year if they keep up with their rate of improvement. Right now, however this team is a borderline top 100 team.

Honorable Mentions:

Walter Johnson High School (Bethesda, MD)

Don’t know much about this team, but this team has been close to breaking 20 PPB in numerous tournaments. Ho-Jung and Tommy also appear to put up a lot of points.

Blacksburg High School (Blacksburg, VA)

Tigran is a good generalist with some good knowledge in science and Ideen was capable enough to get on the VA NASAT team.

Centennial High School B (Ellicott City, MD)

I’m not sure who’s really in this team, since Centennial has a lot of teams, or what their specialties are, but the team at MD Fall did really well even beating their own A-team. Could definitely make a surprise run if they have that capability.

Howard High School (Ellicott City, MD)

They come to a lot of tournaments and appear to posses some good history and literature knowledge.

New Kent High School (New Kent, VA)

They host a lot of tournaments, and their teams go to a lot of tournaments. Clare is a good fine arts player and David has good knowledge in history. They’ve come close to posting 20 PPB also.

George Mason High School (Falls Church, Va)

They’ve come to some recent tournaments and each time placed in the top bracket. Jarman appears to be a good generalist, and his supporting cast can contribute.

Langley High School (McLean, VA)

They were at HFT and appear to have some good knowledge, enough that they placed in the top bracket there. Would like to see these guys at more tournaments cause they look to be promising.

Western Branch High School (Chesapeake, VA)

They’ve only been to one tournament that I am aware of, but Vincent Lin looks like a good player, putting up a solid individual PPG.

If anyone else has anymore to say or point out another team that deserves to be recognized, please comment. I'd like to have a discussion about the region before we head into nationals.

[The Stately Rhododendron]

I just want to acknowledge how amazing the DC circuit is at this point. 4 teams in the top 10, including #'s 1 and 2! I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at PACE.

[naan/steak-holding toll]

Definitely looking forward to seeing how things go at PACE - I should be there to watch, though I didn't sign up to staff since I didn't think I would be available a few months ago.

[Lawrence Simon]

I just took a quick look at the rankings from this year and the past two years and this is not only the most teams our area has had in the Top 10 since I've been in high school, but it's also the most we've ever had in the Top 50, that number being 8. I think that this proves that this year's teams, despite a variety of skill levels, have the ability to run the gamut from National Champions to various trophy winners. I think this may be the most competitive I've ever seen this circuit and these rankings have made me and my team super-excited for Nationals!