Even though the Happy Valley High School Scholar’s Bowl team didn’t win the national championship, the group did make some good memories, earn competition experience and develop a hunger to do even better next year.

The team placed second in the state competition earlier this year, earning them a spot at the National Academic Quiz Tournament held in Atlanta this past weekend. The group placed 25th out of 60 participating schools. Team captain Erin Drinnon placed 15th overall out of 300 students.

The team is made up of sophomore Sarah Vance, juniors Noah Lyons and Zach Jefson, and seniors Rosa Ray, Savanah Shelton and Drinnon. Happy Valley teacher Jessica Keith is the team’s main coach and sponsor while teacher Jennifer Banks serves as the assistant coach and sponsor.

This was the first year the team competed in the NAQT tournament. Previously the team competed in the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Scholar’s Bowl tournament in Knoxville.

Team member Zach Jefson, who will serve as group’s co-captain next year, said even though they didn’t bring home first place, he still considered it a successful tournament.

“It was the furthest we’ve ever gotten,” he said.

The team members did well with their questions, Jefson said, adding they still managed to find time to have some fun at the tournament in between competing and studying.

“We had a lot of good laughs,” he said.

Before the team headed out to Atlanta, many members, including Jefson, said they were nervous about the competition. “But once the competition got going that all calmed down,” he said.

The tournament was tough, but the students performed well, Keith said.

“We competed against small schools nationwide and a lot of them were charter schools, STEM schools and private schools,” she said. “It’s very much a testament to our school, our students and our faculty.”