LHS claims third at Wyoming Academic Challenge

Despite being down a couple of key team members due to conflicting state events, the Lovell High School Wyoming Academic Challenge team claimed third place at the state competition out of seven schools in Riverton on Saturday, March 15.

Teams must qualify throughout the year to make it to State, which was held at Central Wyoming College.

Teams face off through four rounds of questioning with toss-up questions in the first and third rounds and toss-up bonus questions in the second and fourth where the potential point values are increased.

Although scoring higher than the tournament’s second seeded team, Lovell was seeded third overall at the competition, which put them in the same bracket as top competitors from Cheyenne East.

“When we went head-to-head with them, we represented very well and held our own,” coach Bret George said. “We were well-rounded, and the kids really stepped up.”

Team captain, senior Jarrett Allen, led the way with his experience and knowledge of the competition along with fellow senior Taggart Shumway.

Sophomores Nate Cornia and Dean Anderson also gained valuable experience at the event and rose to the occasion, George said.

With two team members, seniors Davin Crosby and James Blau, participating in the state championship basketball game the same day, Coach George said that Lovell was barely able to fill the team spots but was especially proud of Cornia and Anderson for how they handled the pressure.

“I was very proud with how they performed with those other schools,” George said. “Some of those seniors have been on the team for multiple years and have really wanted a medal, and this is the first time in three years that they were able to.”