On Saturday, March 20, the HHS Academic Team participated at the Class 5 Scholastic Bowl State Tournament. The tournament, which was held virtually, featured four schools from different classes competing against each other. The HHS Academic Team, led by HHS staff members Lawson Yoder and Ryan Henschel, consists of senior Henry Hermes and juniors Mary El Vaughan, Josiah Leach and Corinne Mayfield.

In the first game, the Blue Streaks went against Matthew Fontaine Maury High School from Norfolk, Va. While the Blue Streaks started out behind with a score of 5-60, they caught back by getting the last seven questions right in the first round. This allowed them to win the first round. From there, the Blue Streaks won rounds two and three, ultimately winding the match with a score of 235-130.

In the second game, the Blue Streaks went against Thomas Jefferson High School from Fairfax, Va. Thomas Jefferson high School were the five-time defending Class 5 State champions. Not only have they won states, but they have consistently placed in the top five at the national competition every year. In this round, the Blue streaks lost to a score of 370-95.

In the third game, the Blue Streaks faced Douglas Freeman High School from Richmond, Va. The match was very close, with a score of 170-125 going into the final round with the Blue Streaks in the lead. The Douglas Freeman High School team pushed back in the final round, leaving the two teams tied with only two questions left for the round. The Blue Streaks answered both correctly, pulling them to a win with a score of 220-200.

Overall the team placed second in the Class 5 Scholastic Bowl State Tournament with Thomas Jefferson High School placing first. While the team is not moving on to the next level, their efforts are still being recognized by HHS and its staff members.

“Our success on Saturday is a credit to our entire team—the deepest, most talented team that we have had at HHS in several years…  Please extend your congratulations to all team members for our team’s tremendous success this year,” Yoder and Henschel said in a released email.