Brainy bragging rights in Cambridge went to Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, which pulled away from Cambridge Rindge & Latin School in a first round match of GBH’s High School Quiz Show that aired March 6 (it was available for streaming March 5).
“With two local teams, it was a great atmosphere, and one of the biggest studio audiences we’ve experienced at HSQS [High School Quiz Show],” Sam Crihfield, coach of the BB&N Quiz Show team, said via email. Crihfield coaches along BB&N math teacher Chip Rollinson. “We were very impressed by the CRLS team, especially given that it was their first time on the show.”
BB&N was clearly the more veteran team, usually quicker to press the buzzer throughout the match, and eventually secured a comfortable 610-315 victory. BB&N’s team captain, Andreas Bai said via email “I think the match and its results were a demonstration of how much all of us have prepared for this show.”
CRLS coach Julian Salazar said “experiences like these help students build confidence and we look forward to future competitions.” That was true for Safi Twombly, one of the CRLS competitors. ”I’ve definitely boosted my confidence by having this experience and I’m so proud of my whole team.”
Twombly added that “Being on High School Quiz Show was such a dream come true. I feel like we all tried our best and I’m really glad we got this opportunity.”
During a brief pause between rounds, host Joe Hanson lobbed lighthearted questions at the players.
“You’re a third-degree blackbelt in Karate, is that right?” he asked Bai, who quipped back, “it’s taekwondo, actually.”
“Who’s writing these things!” exclaimed Hanson, drawing a hearty laugh from the studio audience.
Hanson asked Maude Ullman, who helped co-found the CRLS quiz bowl team last year, about her pet hedgehog Cruella. “She has anxiety and lives in a bag,” Ullman joked, to laughter from the audience.
Local rivalry aside, Crihfield said “it was a collegial and friendly atmosphere between the two teams, which we’ve come to expect at HSQS.”
Though handed a tough defeat, the CRLS team is proud of its performance.
“They brought great energy and did not shy away from the moment,” Salazar said via email. “I am very proud of all the hard work the team put in to make it to the live show in the first place.”
“I had a great time through the whole process and enjoyed seeing so much support from friends and family,” said Declan Lewis, another CRLS team member.
GBH encourages those who missed the March 5 live stream to watch the episode on the High School Quiz Show YouTube Chanel or catch the episode live on the 7th at 6 p.m. on GBH 2.
BB&N will move on to face Belmont High School in the quarterfinals, which premieres on April 16.
A stronger
Please consider making a financial contribution to maintain, expand and improve Cambridge Day.
We are now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.
Please consider a recurring contribution.