News

Ardenne beats Knox College

By WANDEKA GAYLE, Staff Reporter

(From left to right) Captain of Ardenne High, Andrew McLean, and his team members, Dane Clarke, Yonique Petgrave and Rasheed Anderson are ready for Round Three of TVJ's School Challenge Quiz Competition after beating Knox Community College 35-20. - Ricardo Makyn

IN THE 14TH match of Round Two in TVJ's School Challenge Quiz Competition, number four seed, Ardenne High redeemed themselves of a poor performance in the first round of the competition by sending home Knox Community College 35-20 in a match aired last night.

Despite the scoreline, it was no easy feat as Ardenne's opponents were worthy opponents. During Section one where teams are asked questions alternately, both teams did poorly on Physics questions but they answered the Bible Knowledge and Language questions correctly. However, Ardenne were on top of current local and international affairs and thus led their opponents by eight points 14-6 at the end of the section.

Substantial lead

During the speed section, where teams have alternate 60-second periods to answer as many questions as possible, Ardenne was able to answer seven more questions than Knox Community College pushing up their tally by nine points. By the end of Section two, Ardenne mounted a substantial lead, going into the final buzzer section on 31 points to Knox's 16.

The buzzer segment proved to be a nightmare of sorts for both teams. Both battled just to maintain their earlier scores. Just as soon as they scored points they would lose them just as quickly during their next attempt.

Ardenne struggled and as the end of the contest neared the accidental pressing of the buzzer on their part cost them two points.

Ardenne's coach, Reverend Glenn Archer, was elated with the improvement in his team's performance. "Their earlier performance was a benchmark for us to do our homework," Archer told THE STAR, "Their focus level has increased voluminously."

He added that he told them not look at scores since they had only amassed 28 points in Round One and Knox Community College had scored 47. "I told them to look at texture of the match instead," Archer said.

Ardenne's captain, Andrew McLean, said that they had come together with the mission to much better. "We studied up on the Grammys, Current Affairs, History and Mathematics and Literature questions," he explained.

John Clarke, coach of the Knox Community College team said, "Any loser will feel disappointed. The psychic energy was not flowing because they were nervous."

However, the team insists that nervousness was not brought on by any form of intimidation. "We were kind of jittery and we lacked confidence but it was not because of Ardenne," commented Uel Francis, captain of the Knox Community College team.

(Read tomorrow's STAR for the report on the match between St. Mary and St. Hugh's).