A gladiator helmet sits in front of the words “Academic Team.” Clarke Central High School junior Henry Frierson has been on the CCHS Academic Team since the 2019-20 season and has a couple of goals in mind for himself and the team. “I would assume we want to do well in the competitions, and if there’s a state or regions tournament, maybe compete in that and do well, as well. For me, (I) just (want to) participate and get a little better every meet,” Frierson said. Photo illustration by Lilli Sams
The Clarke Central High School Academic Team officially started their 2020 season on Monday, Sept. 21. Due to COVID-19, the season looks differently from previous years.
CCHS junior Henry Frierson has been on the team since his sophomore year and has experienced these adjustments first hand.
“Originally, (we) were competing (as) one team against another at whichever school was hosting. There was a proctor reading questions, and you would buzz in to answer the question. You had four people per team, answering questions, and whoever buzzed in first could say whatever answer they had,” Frierson said. “If it was right then your team got points, and if you were wrong there was another chance for the other team to answer the question. This year it’s just us answering questions (virtually), and all the other teams are doing it that week as well.”
CCHS social studies department teacher Drew Wheeler has been the Academic Team coach since 2004. According to Wheeler, the changes have not been too damaging to the team’s performance.
“No real challenges have been presented by this format, which is unexpected and pleasant. In some ways, it’s easier as we don’t need a bus to take us to away competitions or to order food, which we usually do to entice participants and treat our guests hospitably,” Wheeler said.
For Frierson, the new format has had both positives and negatives.
“As always, I hope we will finish as the top team in the region. However, I am not sure how the format change will affect our chances. We have been first or second over the last few years, so I’ll be happy with a similar finish.”
— Drew Wheeler,
CCHS Academic Team coach
“It’s nice to be able to schedule a time that works for everyone. There were conflicts last year with other activities. Other than that, I don’t like the fact that we’re not in person, and just answering 100 questions in an hour is not as fun as competing against a team directly,” Frierson said.
While the team continues to adjust to the new formatting, Wheeler expects the team to still perform as well as they would before COVID-19.
“As always, I hope we will finish as the top team in the region. However, I am not sure how the format change will affect our chances,” Wheeler said. “We have been first or second over the last few years, so I’ll be happy with a similar finish.”
