The Thatcher “A” team placed first in the Morenci Knowledge Bowl meet on Feb. 28. The Eagles scored 65 points or 12 more than the Safford “A” team (53). The Graham County team had, from left, juniors Joel Cluff, Mckenzie Millar, and Hannah Gibson. Also part of the winning quartet, but not pictured, was junior Reed Borcherding. – Initially, an incorrect photo of Thatcher B team was placed on accident. That has been corrected.
Safford A, Thatcher B second for Knowledge Bowl
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The Thatcher Knowledge Bowl “A” team walked out of Morenci’s Multi-Purpose Room with the first-place award on Feb. 28.
Twelve teams representing seven schools had 49 combined students compete in the meet. It consisted of 120 questions, 60 written with 40 minutes to complete and 30 in two oral sessions with 30 seconds per question to answer, asked of the participants. A tie-breaking five questions were twice used to decide the second place for “B” teams.
Thatcher juniors Reed Borcherding, Joel Cluff, Hannah Gibson, and Mckenzie Millar tallied 65 points or 12 more than the second-place Safford “A” team (53) of seniors Anjley Belle, Davis Hernandez, and Erin Waters along with junior Aaron Jurado.
Third place Saint David scored 50 points, Duncan and Willcox tied for fourth with 49, and Morenci had 29.
Saint David had junior Corban Fry as well as freshmen Jaryn Brogan, Ady Fry, and Ezra Fry; Duncan included junior Jadyn Hobbs, sophomores Arianna Ford and Lucas Soohy, and freshman Parker Griffin; the Willcox quartet; and Morenci had junior Brian Clark, sophomores Keyra DeLeon, Emily Lewis, and Isabella Leyba, and freshman Miles Romero.
The Pima “B” team had 48 points to also finish first, three points ahead of both Thatcher and Morenci. The second-place tie was decided with two five-question sessions as Thatcher edged host Morenci 2-1. Safford was fourth with 42 points, Bisbee fifth (39), and Duncan sixth (27).
Pima had junior Carrie Matthews along with sophomores Lily Johnson, Tade Olson, and Allie Turnidge; Thatcher included junior Temberie Sanders plus freshmen Samantha Orme and Addison Williams; and Morenci had seniors Mia Cazares, Ezra Laney, Justin Leatherman, August Lindsey, and Valeria Zegarra.
The freshmen quartet of Bulldogs included Jeffrey Ayers, Michael Cuevas, Connor Hill, and Dallas Wells; the quartet of Pumas had sophomores Joseph Bradberry, Oliver Herberman, and Nevin Tapia along with freshman McKenna Noel; and the quartet of Wildkats included junior Abigail Gates, sophomores Hailey Harrington and Isaiah Sumner as well as freshman Jarren Butler.
Morenci faculty member Gary Rees was the speaker for the event and Academic Hallmarks, the author of the competition, provided the answers.
