Knightly News

As the host of the region’s first Mu Alpha Theta tournament this year, Episcopal’s team broke records, with 640 students from 36 schools competing in a range of math categories. In addition to hosting a record-breaking number of competitors, a fourth of the Upper School, or 88 club members, and 13 faculty members volunteered to ensure the event ran smoothly.

“This was our 9th tournament, and it has grown considerably,” says math teacher Joan Moroney. “Our first tournament had 148 students and 12 schools. Interesting, this year one of the coaches that attended the tournament with her students was a senior at Episcopal and the Mu Alpha Theta State Board President the first year we hosted a tournament. She was astonished and thrilled at how much it had grown.” Joan and James Moroney serve as Mu Alpha Theta advisors, dedicating significant time and energy to the annual tournament.

Quiz Bowl Follows Up with Another Large Crowd

Only a few weeks after the tremendous math turnout, Episcopal’s Quiz Bowl team broke records of their own. Head Coach Dr. Billy Pritchard says 28 teams from 19 schools and approximately 140 students competed. In addition to hosting the event, the Episcopal team also earned an impressive third place in a highly competitive field.

After such a successful first outing, Dr. Pritchard and the team look forward to the season, and hopes are high for a return to nationals.

Building Community at Episcopal and Across the State

Building community comes in many forms, including academics. “I think this level of involvement and enthusiasm just speaks to the desire for our students to be well rounded and excel in many areas,” says Joan Moroney. “My hope is that Mu Alpha Theta is a club that creates a place for students to feel successful, be challenged, and build community.”

Dr. Pritchard is pleased to see the Quiz Bowl community growing across the state. He says he and other school coaches work closely to ensure that as many interested students as possible have an opportunity to compete somewhere near them.

When it comes to competing for Episcopal, Dr. Pritchard is grateful for his student volunteers and colleagues. At the recent tournament, 15 students and 12 faculty members dedicated their Saturday to ensuring the tournament ran smoothly. “We have a community of support here that is unmatched,” he says. “I always know that our faculty will be here for events such as these because they want our students to succeed. In addition, they can count on me to offer that same assistance. That’s what members of a community do.”

The Mu Alpha Theta and Quiz Bowl teams will compete in schools across the area over the next few months. These students and the faculty who support them are sure to represent Episcopal well. Join us in wishing both teams good luck. Share a message in the comments section below.

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