Los Altos High School placed second out of 15 teams at the National Journalism Quiz Bowl in Minneapolis last month, exceeding expectations after entering the competition seeded 11th. The team, formed only months earlier, did not anticipate advancing to the final round but ultimately reached the championship match against West Linn High School of Oregon.
The four-member team faced closely contested rounds throughout the competition, including matchups against top-seeded programs such as defending champion Harker High School. Several results were decided in the final moments, and a semifinal win came down to a tiebreaker question on photography.
In preparation, students divided topics including Associated Press style, journalism ethics, court cases and current events, studying intensively in the days leading up to the competition. Fast-paced buzzer rounds required quick decision-making and coordination among teammates.
Advisor Jodi Hwang said the goal was simply to give students the experience. “You never know unless you try,” Hwang said about the initial idea to form a competition team. “It’s a great representation of what’s possible.”
– Julia Baum
