{"id":32904,"date":"2026-09-12T22:20:08","date_gmt":"2026-09-13T02:20:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/?p=32904"},"modified":"2026-09-13T16:44:29","modified_gmt":"2026-09-13T20:44:29","slug":"middle-school-high-school-and-homeschool-students-compete-in-quiz-bowl-learn-about-studying-at-tusculum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2026\/middle-school-high-school-and-homeschool-students-compete-in-quiz-bowl-learn-about-studying-at-tusculum\/","title":{"rendered":"Middle school, high school and homeschool students compete in quiz bowl, learn about studying at Tusculum"},"content":{"rendered":"

GREENEVILLE<\/strong> \u2013 Brainpower enveloped the Meen Center as students from middle school and high school and homeschool cooperatives demonstrated their mastery of a broad array of subjects in the largest turnout so far of a popular annual quiz bowl tournament at Tusculum University<\/a>.<\/h4>\n
\"Two

Two players consult each other on an answer.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Dr.

Dr. Chuck Pearson addresses the competitors.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Tusculum Earlybird, held Saturday, Sept. 12, is a staple of the fall at the university and attracted 32 teams and 130 competitors from four states and as far as Nashville in Tennessee this year. Participants not only had the opportunity to showcase their knowledge but also experience what it would be like to be a student taking classes in the Meen Center, the newest building on campus and one of the biggest at Tusculum.<\/p>\n

Competitors tackled questions about fine arts, history, literature, pop culture, psychology, religion, science and social science.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are thrilled to hold this tournament every year and are delighted with such an impressive number of competitors this time,\u201d said Dr. Chuck Pearson, assistant dean of math and science, who serves as the event\u2019s leader. \u201cThese students are extremely bright and are committed to expanding their knowledge, which will benefit them greatly as they progress academically. We would love to help them further grow their quiz bowl skills and prepare them as Tusculum students to be career-ready professionals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some of the competitors in the Tusculum Earlybird included members of Team Tennessee, which includes 10 players from across the state who played in the National All-Star Academic Tournament in June. Tusculum provided funding and coaching for the team. Two members of that team \u2013 Carson Tidwell and Liam Mooney \u2013 finished first and second, respectively, in the upper division at this year\u2019s Tusculum Earlybird.<\/p>\n

Perspective from competitors<\/strong><\/p>\n

Among the participants at the Tusculum Earlybird was a two-person team from Gate City High School in Virginia \u2013 senior Rader Ketron and sophomore Madalynne Watts. This is his fourth year in quiz bowl and the fifth time he has come to Tusculum for a competition. He has traveled as far as Atlanta to compete. His trip to Tusculum was fruitful this year because he finished as the top scorer in the novice division.<\/p>\n

\"Madalynne

Madalynne Watts, left, and Rader Ketron work on an answer to one of the questions during the Tusculum Earlybird.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI like learning things that don\u2019t come up normally in classes,\u201d Ketron said. \u201cThis tournament is a really good way to get into the start of the season and get in a groove after the summer. It\u2019s the first one everybody plays. I really like playing the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is Watts\u2019 first year. She became interested in playing quiz bowl because she has a friend who has been involved in that activity since seventh grade. There was an announcement that the school was looking for students to try out for the Gate City team. She decided to pursue it because she wanted to be more active in school and in her community and learn more things.<\/p>\n

Watts enjoyed herself in her first competition and was pleased with her and Ketron\u2019s performance. Entering the Tusculum Earlybird is helping Watts to know how to prepare for future tournaments.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have been on Quizlet like every day,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve studied more than I think I every have in my life. This is doing really well to help me get into study habits, which I am proud of. I\u2019ve gone over a study guide multiple times, and I\u2019ve even had one of friends help quiz me. I\u2019ve also shown up to practices. I\u2019ve done my best to try to prepare.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tusculum has a quiz bowl team, coached by Dr. Pearson, for students enrolled at the university, and it has participated in a variety of competitions. Students who participate in the team might qualify for a $2,000 annual scholarship. Anyone who is interested in becoming a member of the team can speak with the Office of Admission at admission@tusculum.edu<\/a> or Dr. Pearson at cpearson@tusculum.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Welcome from the university\u2019s president <\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum\u2019s president, attended the Tusculum Earlybird to extend his and the university\u2019s greetings to all of the competitors. He quickly turned to the business of the day by asking all of the competitors a couple of questions:<\/p>\n