The Academic Team has been a long-standing club at Bowling Green High School, attracting some of the most talented and passionate scholars in the school.
What most people think of when they hear “Academic Team” is an event called Quick Recall. Quick Recall is a team event, where teams of four people compete to see who can answer questions faster. Teams are tested on a variety of subjects, from significant figures to constellations. Most students will “specialize” in one subject, so the knowledge of the team is split between multiple people.
However, Quick Recall is not the only event our Academic Team competes in. Most students also take content assessments, where they are tested on specific subjects like mathematics or arts and humanities. Students can specialize and test in math, science, social studies, language arts, and arts and humanities, so there is something for everyone in Academic Team.
Mr. Collings, a biology teacher at BGHS, has been the head coach of the Academic Team for 3 years. Before that, he worked with Ms. May as the assistant coach. He says, “(Ms. May) was wonderful. They had a lot of success, so I’m just trying to build on that.”
Mr. Collings was on his high school’s Academic Team and describes it: “It was something special to me; a place that I enjoyed. I love learning about anything.” He continues, “I get to do that with other people who are embracing the idea that you can learn about all sorts of things beyond what you’re directly taught in school.”
Mr. Collings’ role as the head coach involves a variety of tasks. He prepares study material for students, finds realistic questions for Quick Recall practice, and creates new ways of challenging his students throughout the year. Mr. Collings and the team’s assistant coach, Mrs. Angelle, attended a conference this summer held by the Kentucky Association for Academic Competition, the agency who manages Academic Teams across the state. They learned many things there, Mr. Collings says, “(we) looked specifically at how to build teams and how to increase competition.”
Mr. Collings and Mrs. Angelle now incorporate weekly study packets and interesting games into their weekly practice schedule. Mr. Collings says, “we’re building a culture of people who want to dig in and learn even more than they’re learning at school.” He also adds, “Students are very focused and intentional with what they’re studying, and then they can see how well that paid off and see their success immediately in the next practice.”
The team has grown exponentially this year, according to Mr. Collings. He says, “It’s been really fun to see them grow in what they’re interested in and see how they’re improving throughout the year.” At one practice last week, the Academic Team played a version of Quick Recall that they called “Two-headed dragon.” Two of the most achieved students are placed on a team together, faced against the rest of the Academic Team. They are only allowed to ‘buzz’ for each other, not for themselves. Games like this are part of the normal rotation for the Academic Team; Mr. Collings admits, “we’re a little silly from time to time.” Although, he says, “(people) are impressed by how much people know…it’s important to remember with anyone who’s good at anything, underneath there’s a lot of hard work they put in.”
For anyone who is interested in joining the team, Mr. Collings says, “if you like the idea of being like those people, able to perform at a high level and learn lots of things…just come to a practice and enjoy people getting together having a good time and learning different things.”
Kollin Hsieh, a senior at BGHS, has been on the Academic Team since the 4th grade. They initially joined because they were persuaded by their friends, but have learned to enjoy being on the Academic Team over the years. Kollin elaborates on their experience: “It’s hard to say (how Academic Team has changed me) because I’ve been doing it for more than half my life, but I think more about the way I absorb information.”
Kollin thinks that the Academic Team has made them place more emphasis on retaining and understanding information, as opposed to memorizing it temporarily and tossing it aside afterward. Kollin competes in Quick Recall, alongside taking tests over their math and science knowledge.
Compared to past years, Kollin says, “This season is better, mostly because we started setting aside time during practice to study.” They think that the amount of time students study depends on how much they want to, but the schedule can get in the way of other extracurriculars. Kollin states, “it is serious, but not as much as people think it is.” While Kollin does say they feel like quite the nerd for being in Academic Team, they disagree with the stereotype of a typical nerd in Academic Team. They say, “Most of the people on the Academic Team are not your ‘typical’ nerds, I’m one of the only ‘typical’ nerds.”
Leann is a sophomore at BGHS and joined the Academic Team this year. She joined because, “I really enjoy trivia and Mr. Collings said it was very similar.” Leann specializes in social studies, competing in quick recall amongst the rest of her team. She thinks, “People think Academic Team is only for super smart people who are advanced in every class. However, I would say it’s more for people who are dedicated and want to learn.”
Since most of the team is made up of newer members this year, she says, “we have done really well… I think as the season progresses we will keep up with the frequent wins.” Despite what most people think, “you don’t really need to put in much time outside of school, minus a bit of studying,” Leann says. In the couple months she has been with the team, Leann already thinks it has made a large impact on her. She says, “Being in Academic Team has really helped me be more confident in myself as well as more social.” Enjoying the thrill of getting questions correct and expanding her knowledge, Leann has found more confidence in social interactions. “(It) helps assure me that I’m smart enough,” she says.
In January, the Academic Team will compete in their district competition, known as the Governor’s Cup. If they win 1st or 2nd place, they will advance to the regional competition. The Academic Team is a wonderful opportunity for those interested in academics to expand their knowledge and meet like-minded people. The passion for learning and competition that these students share is unmatched. Best of luck to our Academic Team. We’re hoping for another great year!
