Judging from practice today, KIPP could be the odds on favorite to claim its third straight Halifax County Library Quiz Bowl title Wednesday night.

The Halifax Academy team, which hasn’t won a title in eight years, but has consistently finished second and third, is looking to retake the title.

KIPP and Halifax Academy both appeared to be strongest two teams in this year’s field and a champion will be crowned after the Quiz Bowl, which begins at 5 p.m. at the cooperative extension auditorium in Halifax.

This will be the 26^th edition of the Quiz Bowl, said Ginny Ovredahl, director of the county library system.

The Halifax Academy team during practice.

It is a competition that was nearly left for dead in 2007 when the state library system pulled its support. “The students still wanted to participate,” she said.

Support for the event now comes from the community, KapStone and Littleton Friends of the Library. “We were willing to do it. The students came to us and that was very gratifying to us.”

With there no longer being a statewide Quiz Bowl, the furthest a team can go is regional competition, which will also be in Halifax this year on March 24.

Ovredahl said that the students wanted to continue the Quiz Bowl tradition started in 1987 speaks volumes of them. “It shows we have bright students who are competitive and work hard and we do have students who excel academically.”

During todays practice all teams but Northampton-East were present. The teams that attended — Roanoke Rapids, Northwest Halifax, Halifax Academy and KIPP — were given questions on a wide range of topics, from literature to nation and world history, science and chemistry. Some of the questions covered were about Robert Louis Stevenson, Thurgood Marshall and the Louisiana Purchase. State and questions about sports were also included.

Keeping score.

KIPP handily won its practice rounds.

“A lot of it is covered in regular classes,” KIPP co-coach Teresa Lambe said. “The kids seem relaxed. I know the kids will make a good showing.”

Lambe said events like these are good for the students. “I think it gives kids a chance to show what they know. It’s a confidence booster and a chance to bond with one another.”

Logan DeBerry of the Halifax Academy team said the group has been preparing since the beginning of the school year. “We have a packet of questions from history to pop culture.”

The team has even used encyclopedias to prepare, he said.

KIPP, right, and Halifax Academy during a practice round.

“I don’t think it’s any thing you can study for,” Halifax Academy team member Amanda Clark said. “It’s what you already know.”

While Clark acknowledges KIPP will be tough, she also said, “I feel confident we can pull it off.”

If Halifax Academy can pull the win off it would be its first title since his brother was on the team, DeBerry said.

“Winning a quiz bowl, would feel something like winning a game,” Halifax Academy team member J.W. Thomas said.

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