RANGELY | In just the second year of reviving its Knowledge Bowl program, Rangely High School’s Knowledge Bowl team earned an eighth place finish at the state event. The team competed in four Region 8 contests throughout November, December and January against North Park, Moffat County, Middle Park and Steamboat Springs. Rangely’s “A” team, consisting of Brady Bertoch, Riley Boydstun, Kaylee Mecham, Caleb Noel and alternate Miekka Peck, earned an “at-large” berth to state with a score of 81 points at the regional meet at Steamboat Springs on Feb. 9.
The Colorado Knowledge Bowl Association held its state championships on the CSU-Ft. Collins campus March 12-13. The academic competition for Colorado high school students is a Jeopardy-like game in which participants are asked a total of 470 questions over two days (a normal one-day meet features only 260 questions) on topics ranging from art to space travel. Championship teams in each school size classification, from 1A to 5A, competed for top honors from the best 60 Knowledge Bowl teams across the state. Statewide, the sport is played by 160 schools that compete on a regular basis in a season that runs from September to March each year.
Peyton and Telluride captured the 2A state champion and runner-up trophies. Rangely’s team finished the two-day event with an eighth place finish out of 13 2A teams. The team is coached by Rangely science teachers Katie Toyne and Kyle Boydstun. Both coaches recognize that Knowledge Bowl helps develop public speaking and problem-solving skills and helps enhance natural academic curiosity. Kaylee Mecham, Caleb Noel and Miekka Peck are all seniors and will be missed next year. Mecham had this to say about her teammates, “I am so proud of my team and I am going to miss competing with them!”
“Kaylee and Caleb did an outstanding job leading our A team for the last two years. Miekka did the same with our B team,” said coach Toyne, adding, “We had a lot of fun at the state meet and gained a lot of experience. I’m happy that they were able to end their Knowledge Bowl experience at the state meet. We are looking forward to seeing Riley, Brady, and our underclassmen take the reins next year.”
