On Saturday, September 30, twenty-one Paideia High School quiz bowlers competed at the GATA Fall Tournament as part of four different Python quiz bowl teams.
The Junior Varsity squad captured top Paideia honors on the day, winning the tournament championship in their division. The JV team was captained by Ethan Fu and included Sarah Abraham, Alec Freeman, Zane Ritchie and Theo Arnold. Balanced and consistent play from all team members saw the squad through an undefeated day of competition, as they went 5-0 in morning preliminary rounds, clinched the top playoff seed, and then emerged also unscathed from tight and competitive afternoon playoff rounds. The team ultimately clinched the championship in a dramatic win over their competitors from Greater Atlanta Christian School.
The Varsity A team also enjoyed a successful day of competition, with a likewise undefeated record in morning rounds. Captain Emerson Moore led the team to the top playoff seed in their division, where he and teammates Michael London, Brendan Brown, Ameha Fekade and Rohan Ramalingam fell in a narrow championship match loss to the GACS Varsity team, resulting in 2nd place honors for Paideia's Varsity Squad.
Two other teams of quiz bowl Pythons were also in action on the day. Captain Simone Green led teammates Elaina Gaydos, Lexi Resnick, Alex Slopsema, Maxim Slopsema and Rafaella Merino in the Varsity division, while Russell Hardin captained a second JV squad that included teammates Karan Chanani, Rohan Thomas, Biel Harik and Cyrus Rahbari.
The JV win sets up Paideia's younger high school players for a successful season in the 2023-24 school year, while the Varsity performance clinches another berth in the year-end National Championship Tournaments to be held in April and May.
Congrats to Paideia quiz bowlers, who continue to distinguish themselves as one of the most successful programs in Georgia.