Academic Bowl
When I tried out for the Academic Bowl team my freshman year, I had no idea about the love affair it would become. As I look at this picture, I realize how different I look now. I was so naive also. Practice wasn't to be taken seriously, the players depended on only our raw talent and knowledge. We only practiced thirty minutes twice a week with random questions that we didn't even bother to remember later on. Yet we came away with the ultimate prize. It wasn't like the teams were easy, it was one helluva competition. I was just so happy to have won the national championship, my freshman year even. I hadn't really experienced a true loss. All our losses became insignificant because we won the whole thing anyway. I met so many of my equals, I really believe I grew so much from my first year of competition. I didn't realize that there were this many deaf intellectuals in the world, to be frank. I loved my team, and the seniors definitely made an impact on me, as cheesy as that is. Even though I was a freshman, I still think I helped the team win the national championship. I didn't have as much as a part in winning as I would've liked to have, but I think Rachel and I definitely added something to the mix that worked. The "big three" had been there for the past three years, with alternating teammates, but Rachel and I were added their senior year, and obviously it worked. Maybe it was because the seniors were just that, seniors, older and wiser, but the team had a chemistry that most teams can only dream about. We didn't fight, we understood what we had to do to win, and we did it.
Sophomore year was definitely the most devastating year. We got third place at the regionals, and I didn't understand why. Rachel and I had been so used to winning, that a loss just didn't make sense to us. The team didn't have chemistry, we fought a lot, it was definitely the complete opposite of the "dream team" we had the previous year. Rachel and I felt this need to prove that we were worthy, that the senior boys didn't do all the work when we won the National championship. Unfortunately, we failed to do that. We didn't even make nationals. From first in the nation to not even ranked. But I think we grew the most as a team that year. We realized that losses really do happen. It was also the first time that two mainstream schools made it to Nationals, and it was pretty much our fault. A mainstreamed school won the national championship. A team that was in our region. I'm not against mainstreamed schools at all, but a lot of people were. And somehow I felt as if I had failed those people.
My favorite team. Our coach fell ill, and we had to have two new coaches. It turned out to be the best thing ever to happen to our team. Our coach was a veteran of high school academic bowl, and he wasted no time in teaching us. I have no idea how much information I stuffed into my brain that year. We also decided to cut our losses and go with the minimum number of team members, three. It was great, we didn't make any mistakes we couldn't afford. We got second at regionals, a devastating loss in the championship. I blame one certain woman for taking away our paper when we had the right answer. Oh well, that's all moot now. We made nationals, and we were determined to prove to everyone that we had a much better team than the previous team. And we did. We had a record of 5-4 which I thought was very fitting. We beat the 4 teams above us, and the 5 teams below us, so I guess we were placed perfectly. I have no idea what would have happened if our coach had stayed with us the entire year. But I'm not going to waste any time thinking about that. I was and still am happy about our performance at Nationals last spring. I also loved the team as well, the chemistry was perfect, the coach fit our needs perfectly. And then Rachel graduated, and I didn't know what I would do without her.
Senior year, we have a great team. Three newbies, but that doesn't seem to come up too often. The morale is great, although sometimes they hate me for buzzing in way too fast. I tell them they need to beat me in order to beat everyone else, haha. I'm not even the fastest one out there, although I'm working on it. Getting faster everyday, I hope. It's been a bumpy ride so far, though. I had planned on graduating early, but because of this damn wonderful team I decided to stay. I regret it at times, but I know it'll all be worth it in the end. I love our team, and I am glad I didn't leave them. I'm the captain of the team and there is a certain responsibility that comes with it. I'm loving it though and couldn't imagine a more perfect position for me. Academic Bowl turned out to be my most fulfilling extracurricular all throughout high school, and I'm thankful everyday that I beat out a certain senior to make the team freshman year. And I'm not looking forward to leaving the world that is Academic Bowl, but after four years, I think it is time for me to find another passion.
Todd and Christy - Be prepared to feel this way in three years.
Allison