The South Georgia State College (SGSC) Academic Quiz Team just completed their first competition of the academic year, fighting it out at the Delta Burke Invitational held at Valencia College in Orlando, Fla. Members of the team are Hailey Williamson (co-captain) of Fitzgerald, Ga., and Hong Rose Nguyen (co-captain), Maria Briceno, and Alejandro Briceno, all of Douglas, Ga. The SGSC team finished a respectable 4-6 after suffering two tough, close defeats to a very beatable team, but also losing a nail-biter to the ‘A’ team of the powerhouse host school, Valencia. In addition, the SGSC team had a very good round, winning 310-70.
The SGSC players acquitted themselves nicely, with half of the four member team participating in their first competition. Team co-captain Hailey Williamson finished 11th out of 92, just one spot out of being awarded a prize for individual performance.
Dr. Frank Holiwski, associate professor of psychology and team advisor, encourages other SGSC students to become involved.
“We are always looking for students to join the quiz team. SGSC remains very competitive against the Florida schools, but we are tantalizingly close to being great. Any additional players that could help us would make a world of difference,” says Holiwski. “A competing team consists of a maximum of four players, but as with sports teams, you can substitute in during a game, and, of course, use different starting line ups. Thus, more players would improve our chances of competing for nationals.”
The team is also coached by four former SGSC students and former Quiz Teamers, Corey Newkirk, April Brauda, Devin Durham, and Janae Durham Brew, who volunteer their time to help with practices and competition readiness skills.
The Academic Quiz Team will be competing again in January.
– Submitted