Instead of studying for final exams, five Ball State University students will spend the weekend in St. Paul, Minn., where they will be putting their knowledge of trivia to the test.
Ball State's College Bowl team will compete Saturday and Sunday at the national level at Macalester College for the first time in the competition's 55-year history.
"It's kind of a new territory for us, so we're just getting our feet wet," team chaperon John Huber said.
Ball State's team will face 15 colleges and universities at the event, where it will compete in a round-robin style trivia tournament with the possibility to make it to a playoffs round. Four team members will compete, and there will be an alternate to replace a member if needed.
Huber said the competition, which was scheduled to begin Friday, was delayed a day because of logistical reasons involving airlines.
Team captain James Robinson said the team was trying to stay relaxed in order to prepare for the tournament.
"I'm really psyched about it," teammate Trevor Fitzgerald said. "I think there's going to be some tough competition. It's the best of the best at this tournament."
Ball State will compete against universities such as Ohio State, Arizona State, Georgetown and Minnesota universities.
"As a returning Ball State competitor, I've been on [the College Bowl team] for the past three years," Fitzgerald said. "I think our team is the best team I've been on yet. I think it's clear our team has what it takes to do well."
Ball State's team advanced to nationals after competing in a regional tournament in February at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, where it beat six teams to win the regional championship.
Huber said the team was assembled in the fall during a Ball State-wide competition. The top five participants were made members of this year's team, he said.
"I've been really impressed with the amount of interest that's been generated on campus," he said. "These guys put a lot into it, and it's been recognized by the university."
Team members
- James Robinson
- Rhett Umphress
- Kevin Fitzgerald
- Tanner Troyer
- Christopher Geldes
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