Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Bessemer claims title at GCC's Fall Quiz Bowl

IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP — Bessemer I copped the 14th annual Fall Quiz Bowl Thursday at Gogebic Community College.

Eighteen teams from Bayfield, Bessemer, Hurley, Ironwood, Wakefield-Marenisco and Watersmeet high schools competed in varsity and junior varsity competition.

“A total of 36 exciting games were held, with many of them decided by just one question,” said Carl Vaara, Quiz Bowl organizer.

GCC hosts fall and spring Quiz Bowls. The spring match includes teams from the Copper Country to Phelps, Wis., Vaara said.

Vaara coached Quiz Bowl for 17 years in lower Michigan.

The goal of GCC’s Quiz Bowl is to prepare the students to compete in Marquette, Vaara said.

“It’s a great competition and great practice for the Marquette meets,” Bessemer coach Dave Rowe said.

During the morning rounds of competition, Bessemer I and Hurley I won in their divisions and faced off for the championship, where Bessemer won 315-230.

Members of the championship team are Molly Wieringa, Emma Lackman, Kate Karling, Claire Jackson and Alex Hooyman.

In the junior varsity finals, Ironwood III and Bessemer III came out on top of their divisions with Ironwood III winning the championship 260-180.

Members of the winning Ironwood III team are Isaac Aukee, Zane Ozzello, Hannah Bratu and Corissa Mattson. They are coached by Steve Boyd.The morning rounds were position games, with the afternoon rounds being the championship matches. All teams played four games.