An Avery Trace Middle School eighth grader placed second among middle schoolers in the individual National Quiz Bowl competition.
Taylor Chen said the competition featured 302 total middle school and high school competitors from across the country. Chen said the event took place over the course of one day at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago.
“Well, I was really proud to represent like a place like Putnam County and Avery Trace because many of the other competitors they’re from like California or New York or Chicago,” Chen said. “And I was I’m proud to represent these these small town public middle schools. And you know, I think in continuing on, I’ll continue representing them.”
Chen said he first joined the Avery Trace academic team as a fifth-grade student. That team will also compete in the national tournament.
Chen said his interest in the competition stems from a childhood investment in social studies, history, government, and geography. Chen said he finished 55th overall when including high school competitors but secured first place among middle schoolers in the history category.
“There was a round where it was like it was in the playoffs and I was in the I was on the cusp of getting eliminated and getting pushed down to like a lower bracket, but I did I did very well on a couple questions and it managed to let me stay in in the playoffs,” Chen said.
Chen said the individual competition uses a seeding system where competitors receive cards numbered one through 302 that change hands based on match winners. Chen said the participants with the highest seeds at the end of the day advance to the finals. Chen said he thinks this experience will help prepare him for his future as a lawyer.
“For quiz bowl you need to think quickly,” Chen said, “You have to think quickly, and I think that will help with, you know, being a lawyer and examination and cross-examination.”
Chen said the experience of competing at the national level has allowed him to make new friends and broaden his horizons. Chen said he intends to continue participating in quiz bowl throughout high school and into college.
“So in in a couple weeks, we will be going to Chicago for the team tournament and hopefully maybe win a trophy,” Chen said.
Chen said the Avery Trace Middle School academic team recently qualified for the national team tournament held in Chicago.