Before winter break, Paideia’s JV academic team competed at the GATA JV State Tournament at Milton High School, bringing home its third consecutive state championship. The team was led by sophomore captain Ethan Fu and consisted of sophomores Sarah Abraham, Alec Freeman, J.W. Pelissier and Rohan Thomas, and freshmen Alex Bradley, Sai Kakarala and Daniel Rahbari.
After a tightly contested start to the morning matches, the team put together a solid collaborative effort, receiving key contributions from all players over the course of the day. Paideia’s strongest performances came in the afternoon in a tight victory over strong competitors from GACS, followed by a resounding 440-130 victory over Savannah Country Day to finish the day and secure the championship.
The JV team also learned that it has made the field for the NAQT Small Schools Varsity National Championships in Chicago in April, joining our varsity squad in the 66-team tournament. While this is the fifth consecutive year that Paideia has earned a place in the tournament, it is only the second time that two Python teams have earned national tournament berths. Paideia has a history of strong performance at this competition, placing 7th in 2021; 7th and 17th in 2022; 4th in 2023; and 11th last season.
This season’s national meet will serve as a valuable and exciting opportunity for this year’s veteran quiz bowl Pythons, as well as for the next generation of competitors who are looking to establish a trajectory of more Paideia success in their years of competition to come. Way to go, Pythons!