NBHS Academic Team Has Phenomenal Year, Competed Nationally
In only its third year, the North Babylon Academic Team, under the guidance of Erin Casserly and Tim Pescatore, has built a national reputation. This year's success on the quiz bowl circuit earned them a berth in the 192 team field of the National Academic Quiz Tournament's (NAQT) National Championships. As a result, they traveled to Chicago during the Memorial Day weekend in pursuit of a national title but fell short of the playoffs because of the stiff competition on the national scene. Undaunted, they went on to win three trophies in the Chatham, New Jersey, tournament.
The Academic Team has had a phenomenal year. The team posted top ten finishes in prestigious events from Half Hollow Hills to Kellenberg to Yale University. The crowning achievement of the NAQT schedule was a second place finish at the NAQT Long Island Championships, hosted by North Babylon.
The team also competed in Regional Quiz Bowl, a league that includes teams from all over Long Island. The JV team of B.J. Burton, Brain Manzo, Steven Rademacher, Eric Heikkila and Christine Zhao finished the season as the Southwest Region champions, defeating an unbeaten East Islip team to vault into the top spot ahead of such respected districts as West Islip and Sayville. The Varsity team of Peter DeBlasi, Jared Ginsberg, Kevin Schmid, Tausif Noor and Peter Ruess were the regional runners-up when the season closed. In a grueling Long Island Championship tournament, the Varsity earned the #7 rank for all of Long Island and the JV was #10.
The brainy Bulldogs also once again competed in The Challenge hosted by MSG Varsity. Team Captain DeBlasi led the squad to stunning, lopsided victories over Longwood and Babylon. Aided by Noor's vast literary background and Schmid's math expertise, North Babylon headed into a showdown against returning Suffolk champs, Kings Park. Ginsberg's science proficiency and Ruess' astonishing aptitude across the academic landscape helped the Bulldogs out of an 80 point hole but they could not vanquish the reigning title holders, dropping a 15 point decision. This year's success left the Bulldogs with an overall record of 8-3 at The Challenge.
What has been the key to their success? Innate talent and a wide range of knowledge. Also a strong work ethic. Erin Casserly says of them, "This team constantly surprises me. They come back each week with a new level of information. They are constantly working to improve their already formidable knowledge base." One thing is for sure. Their considerable academic talents vaulted them onto a national stage in Chicago over the Memorial Day weekend. It was an enjoyable experience and one that they will not soon forget.
