Raider knowledge bowl team prepares for state tournament

April is an extremely busy time of year if you are a Raider.

On Thursday afternoon, only half of the Northfield High School knowledge bowl squad was able to attend a practice session in preparation for the upcoming state meet. The reason? Robotics, tennis team competition and Model UN.

Michelle Sonnega, Northfield High School English teacher and knowledge bowl coach, sat at her computer facing the students. Sonnega asked them questions capable of stumping even the most seasoned Jeopardy contestant.

“Who wrote the book ‘Forrest Gump’ that was later made into a movie? What percentage of shared letters are there in September and November? What studio in Chicago is the palindrome of its producer?”

The six students who were able to spend a half hour prepping for the state tournament — Hal Shuffelton, Quinn Lovick, Lilith Brunelle, Allie Hoffelt, Brady Dietz and Cricket Mohring — sat divided into two teams, facing each other with a green buzzer strip laid across the desk.

Buzzing in first is part of the fun.

Students missing from classroom practice were Will Flannery, Gabriel Fisher Navarro, Jackson Hessian and Miles Martig.

The team will be heading to the Minnesota State Knowledge Bowl Meet Thursday and Friday, April 11-12. This year, the annual, two-day academic quiz competition will be held at Cragun’s Resort in Brainerd.