HOLTON, Mich. — A small group of six but mighty students at Holton Senior High School on the quiz bowl team are preparing to take the highest stage as they end their high school career at a national championship in Atlanta on Thursday, May 23.
The National Academic Quiz Tournament, or NAQT, is one of the most competitive academic championships in the country. In order to qualify for the championship, teams must rank in the top 15% of their league.
“When I got connected with this opportunity of entering into the quiz bowl team, which is basically a knowledge game like trivia, it made me curious because I like these kinds of games where you explore your knowledge and tell what you know,” Italy-native study abroad student Daniele Tomasi said.
For some students at Holton Senior High School, they have yet to see the world outside of Michigan. The high school is 100% free and reduced lunch district in a lower socioeconomic community. Teachers say despite hardships in the community, students have strived to do better for themselves. The Atlanta-bound trip has the group of seniors more excited than words can say.
"We've found ourselves to be quite good at quiz bowl and we've qualified a few times and were the top 15% in our league,” Jaxson Thiele said. "The opportunity to go to the national championship in Atlanta will be great for all of us.”
After tireless studying for the last six years, the quiz bowl team has made a name for themselves. For some of the students, this will be their second time attending the championship, and for others, it’ll be their first. With support from the community, the group of motivated students hopes this trip brings memories that’ll be etched in their minds forever, and one of many trips they will take.
“One of the sad realities is our kids don't get out of town much, they don't get to see a lot of things,” coach Mark English said. "One of our goals and missions has always been to show kids things they haven't seen or experienced before.”
The team says the trip will afford them with an opportunity to see what the world has to offer on the outside of West Michigan.
“The most exciting thing is just having these kinds of experiences with all my friends and being in a new country I had never been to, and now going to a new city that I never visited,” Tomasi said.
The team has a GoFundMe that will help the group pay for the costs and fees of the championship in Atlanta. To donate, you can visit their GoFundMe or call the school directly at 231-821-1725 to make a donation over the phone. The group will drive to Nashville on Thursday and continue to Atlanta on Friday. The championship is on Saturday and Sunday.
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