Middle School Academic Challenge Teams Head to Two National Tournaments

The Hawken Middle School Academic Challenge teams have qualified for two national tournaments, after impressive February and March tournament play.
 

On February 19, Hawken teams C and A placed first and second respectively at the prestigious Solon Middle School Tournament. Against some of the best students and teams in northern Ohio, Hawken team members also posted notable individual finishes, with Anderson Clyde ’18, placing second; Nat Crowley ’18, fifth; Matthew Zhu ’17, seventh; Emma Ritz ’17, eighth; Adam Stovsky ’17, thirteenth; and Ethan Carey ’17, fourteenth.
 

Hawken School was the only school at the tournament to have five players in the top 15 positions.
 

Both Hawken teams C and A were invited to the April NAQT National Championship Tournament in Chicago. Invitation to compete in this premier tournament is selective and based on tournament performance. In 2011, 35 teams were invited to compete in 17 rounds of competition.
 

On March 3, Hawken’s three teams competed at the Ohio Regional State Tournament. All three teams qualified for playoff spots, with Hawken team B finishing the preliminary competition undefeated. Team B ended the competition in a shared State Championship with Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy after they tied in final round competition.
 

All three teams qualified for the June QUnlimited National Academic Championship in Chicago. This competition for junior high and middle school students is described as “the finest in academic competition.” The Championship is organized by Questions Unlimited, a Columbus-based company that specializes in providing questions and answers for academic competitions.