WORTHINGTON -- A team of five WHS students will be competing at the Senior High Knowledge Bowl state meet in April after clinching first place at the regional competition Thursday in Marshall.
Two WHS teams competed at Thursday's event. The winning team, Worthington Team 1, consisted of Thomas Burns, Alex Hayenga, Nathan Landwehr, Gordy Moore and Dillon Pedersen. Worthington 3 was an all-freshman team with DJ Berger, Levi Blanchard, Patrick Burns, Kyle Debates and Nicholas Demuth.
Worthington Team 1 members were cautiously optimistic about their expectations prior to the regional competition.
Moore described the regional competition atmosphere as "very intense."
"We just went in with the attitude that we were going to have fun and to stay in the top few rooms," he said.
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All 24 teams at the competition participated in one written round and four oral rounds. Teams are divided into eight rooms of three based on skill level.
Just as it did at the sub-region competition March 5, Worthington 1 scored the highest points in Thursday's written section.
Teams were asked inter-disciplinary questions ranging from American history, math and physics to trivia-like questions.
Worthington 1 members were quick to admit that each of them have a few areas of expertise.
"We have a good team because everyone has their own specialty and we all some have some random knowledge," said Pederson, adding that he was more inclined toward psychology. "I'm trying to study more about geology because we don't have a rock guy, though."
"A lot of things we learn in class are what we use to answer," Landwehr added.
Three members of Worthington 1 -- Moore, Burns, and Landwehr -- competed at the state level last year.
"Last year was insane so we know it's going to be tough," Moore said.
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WHS Knowledge Bowl coach Pat Rolfes, who has been coaching teams for about 10 years, explained that practice usually begins early December.
"Each year coaches receive old copies of questions in previous years," she said, adding that she meets with the students twice a week. "Yesterday (Thursday), my boys took first place and they're on their way to the state competition. I'm very proud of them."
The State Knowledge Bowl Competition is set for April 12-13 in Brainerd.
Daily Globe Reporter Ana Anthony can be reached at 376-7321.
