News Releases
Final round set for Scholarship Challenge
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| By Matt Hicks Sayre Scholarship Challenge team advisor Larry Templeton accepts a $500 consolation prize on behalf of his school district from host Chuck Carver and State Rep. Tina Pickett Saturday after the Redskins lost a grueling final bout with Wyalusing in the last qualifying round. |
That question was “Which New York Yankee slugger won his third Most Valuable Player award in November?” Before host Chuck Carver could come close to finishing the question, Rams captain Ken Coolbaugh buzzed in with the correct answer of “A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez)” to secure his school’s place in the 28th Annual Scholarship Challenge finals against rival Towanda.
“We welcome any chance to take on the Black Knights,” said Wyalusing advisor Beth Trobridge on behalf of her school. In speaking about the close match, and more specifically those tense final questions, Trobridge continued, “We knew there weren’t going to be any easy matches, but I watched them in their earlier matches, and they were comfortable and relaxed.”
Sayre Superintendent Dean Hosterman, High School Principal Sam Cessna, and Scholarship Challenge team advisor Larry Templeton all said they were proud of the four seniors who represented their school district Saturday.
Templeton also admired his students’ dedication to the team despite juggling several other activities in their lives.“It’s such a sacrifice for them to be involved,” said Templeton.
The Wyalusing Rams, who won the Kwasnoski Cup in 1989, showed their strength in the first round of play against Blue Ridge as they immediately jumped out to an 80-point lead. Blue Ridge then closed the scoring gap in the second round while limiting the Rams to just 10 points, before Wyalusing finished the match strongly in the 20-point round 160 to 100.
In their second matchup the Rams again jumped into an early 70-point lead against the Troy Trojans and held on to their dominance through the second round of play, but once in the 20-point questions Troy gave them a run for their money as they tied the score up 80 to 80. Wyalusing capitalized on a missed math question by Troy, but the Trojans fired right back to pull within 10 points. In utilizing the quick buzzer skills they are becoming famous for, the Rams beat out the Trojans on the final question to take the 120 to 90 win.
On the other side of the draw the action was a little less intense, with Canton taking a 60 to 20 win in their first match against Sullivan County High School, which featured many questions falling to the timer.
Canton experienced similar play in their next match against Sayre, with both teams nearly locked in a stalemate. It only took a couple key questions answered by Sayre in the 20-point round for the Redskins to secure their 70 to 40 win.
State Rep. Tina Pickett, R-Wysox, was on hand to help present the consolation award to the Redskins.
“I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else today than at Scholarship Challenge,” said Pickett.
With the conclusion of the fourth and final qualifying round the Scholarship Challenge finals are set to take place March 8 in the Waverly High School auditorium. Elmira Free Academy will go toe to toe against Owego Free Academy, and Wyalusing will face Towanda in pursuit of the Kwasnoski Cup and $2,000 for their schools.
