Western college bowl team competes on national level
Erin Huggins
Issue date: 5/2/08 Section: Headlines
Over the Feb. 22 weekend, four students competed at the National College Bowl Tournament held at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., becoming the first College Bowl team to represent Western at the national level.
Senior Kelly Gordon, junior Megan Cullerton, junior RC Mansker and sophomore Adam Molatore beat Boise State, Washington State and the University of Idaho at the Regional College Bowl Tournament, held at the University of Washington, qualifiying Western for nationals.
Gordon, team captain, said they took about a week and a half off after the regional tournament before beginning weekly practices for nationals, during which they used questions from previous national tournaments.
"We were excited, but you don't want to get burned out," said Gordon.
At the national tournament, Western won four out of 15 matches, placing twelfth in the nation.
"I liked the fact that the other teams we were going against were really big name schools," said Gordon. "It was cool that [Western was] representing our region."
Amanda Rodino, Western's Coordinator of Leadership and Programs, coached the team.
"I am very proud of how [the] team did, especially considering we were one of the smallest schools to go there," Rodino said. "The team that won only beat us by 90 points when we played them. It seems like a lot, but it's really only about three questions, if you get the bonuses."
Rodino said she enjoyed representing the university at the tournament and hopes the team's accomplishment will spark more interest for Western's own College Bowl tournament next year.
"We met quite a few former game show contestants, including a Jeopardy Tournament of Champions Winner as well as someone that won Ben Stein's Money and played on Who Wants to be a Millionaire," Rodino said.
"Obviously the teams were much more skilled both in knowledge and strategy at nationals," Rodino said.
"All teams that competed had to first win their region to advance to nationals. The only exception to this was the Wildcard school and even they were second in their region."
Gordon said the biggest strategy tactic involved pace.
"Teams at the national level are a lot better at intentionally slowing down on the bonus question," he said. "Or when they're behind, they'll start taking more chances, ringing in early."
Rodino said another difference about the national tournament was the caliber of volunteer officials, many of whom have been involved in College Bowl for several years or work for the College Bowl company.
College Bowl, the Incidental Fee Committee (IFC), President Minihan and University Residences contributed funding for the team's trip, which totaled about $3600.•
Senior Kelly Gordon, junior Megan Cullerton, junior RC Mansker and sophomore Adam Molatore beat Boise State, Washington State and the University of Idaho at the Regional College Bowl Tournament, held at the University of Washington, qualifiying Western for nationals.
Gordon, team captain, said they took about a week and a half off after the regional tournament before beginning weekly practices for nationals, during which they used questions from previous national tournaments.
"We were excited, but you don't want to get burned out," said Gordon.
At the national tournament, Western won four out of 15 matches, placing twelfth in the nation.
"I liked the fact that the other teams we were going against were really big name schools," said Gordon. "It was cool that [Western was] representing our region."
Amanda Rodino, Western's Coordinator of Leadership and Programs, coached the team.
"I am very proud of how [the] team did, especially considering we were one of the smallest schools to go there," Rodino said. "The team that won only beat us by 90 points when we played them. It seems like a lot, but it's really only about three questions, if you get the bonuses."
Rodino said she enjoyed representing the university at the tournament and hopes the team's accomplishment will spark more interest for Western's own College Bowl tournament next year.
"We met quite a few former game show contestants, including a Jeopardy Tournament of Champions Winner as well as someone that won Ben Stein's Money and played on Who Wants to be a Millionaire," Rodino said.
"Obviously the teams were much more skilled both in knowledge and strategy at nationals," Rodino said.
"All teams that competed had to first win their region to advance to nationals. The only exception to this was the Wildcard school and even they were second in their region."
Gordon said the biggest strategy tactic involved pace.
"Teams at the national level are a lot better at intentionally slowing down on the bonus question," he said. "Or when they're behind, they'll start taking more chances, ringing in early."
Rodino said another difference about the national tournament was the caliber of volunteer officials, many of whom have been involved in College Bowl for several years or work for the College Bowl company.
College Bowl, the Incidental Fee Committee (IFC), President Minihan and University Residences contributed funding for the team's trip, which totaled about $3600.•
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