The 2022-2023 school year opened with great expectations for the Cedar Crest Quiz Bowl team after they were voted the preseason number 1 team in the state of Pennsylvania by the Greater Pennsylvania Quiz Bowl Society. The team has certainly done everything possible to live up to those expectations.
The “A” team, consisting of captain Danny Peelen, Sam Joffy, Tyler Steffy, and Zac Brutko, along with a few others who have subbed in along the way, has answered their way to a 53 and 3 record this season against the top teams from around the state of Pennsylvania, as well as defeating excellent teams from 8 other states along the way. The team was crowned champions at 3 of the 4 Pennsylvania tournaments at which they competed, winning the Mellon Bowl at Carnegie Mellon University in October, the Manheim Township Academic Challenge in December, and the Great Valley Quiz Bowl Tournament in January. During Lancaster-Lebanon League play the team compiled a regular season record of 17 and 1 to win their first regular season L-L title since 2009 and then went 5 and 0 on their way to their first playoff title since 2002. Danny Peelen and Sam Joffy were named Lancaster-Lebanon League All Stars.
Along with the team’s incredible success, captain Danny Peelen had one of the most dominant individual seasons in CCHS Quiz Bowl history. Danny was the leading individual scorer at every tournament that the team played in, and also did a fine job representing Cedar Crest at the Individual Player National Championships on April 2nd in Chicago, where he finished tied for 19th in a field consisting of approximately 200 of the best individual players from around the country. He finished 10th overall in scoring average and was one of only 9 players to win 4 or more rounds in the tournament, but a tough semifinal room (consisting of 3 of the top 4 finishers) led to his elimination in the semifinals.
The team has a few more out of state tournaments over the next month and a half, but the highlights of their remaining schedule are the Pennsylvania State Academic Championships at the State Capitol Building on Friday, April 28th, and the NAQT High School National Championship Tournament over Memorial Day weekend in Atlanta, GA. The state tournament will be held on the floor of the PA House and Senate starting at 9:00 am and spectators are permitted.
The team will be holding a “Quizathon” fundraiser on Sunday, April 23rd to help raise funds to cover travel expenses for nationals. Players are collecting sponsorships based on the number of points that they score in a marathon practice session that day. The session will be live-streamed and all donors will receive the live-stream link. To sponsor a member of the team, please contact that member or you can email Mr. Thomas at sthomas@clsd.k12.pa.us if you have questions or would like to make a donation or sponsor a player.