Quiz Bowl

About the Program

Quiz bowl is a game in which two teams compete head-to-head to answer questions from all areas of knowledge, including history, literature, science, fine arts, current events, popular culture, sports, and more. There are also tournaments for individual players rather than teams.

The defining feature of quiz bowl is the use of a “buzzer system” that lets players interrupt the reading of a question when they know the answer. That element adds a dimension of confidence, anticipation, and rapid recall to a game about knowing facts. Those “tossup” questions are answered individually, but doing so earns one’s team a chance at a three-part “bonus” question. Bonus questions are worth more points and allow collaboration, but are generally more difficult. (Source: NAQT) 

Quiz Bowl Members  

2017-2018 

Coltin Berke, David Le, Amanda McKivergan, Reid Jansen, Tommy Nguyen, Matt Pauling, Michael Duax, Mason Jelken, Megan Juhnke, Colin Houts, Jose Ayala Garcia, Faith Taylor, and Corey Wigton 

2018-2019 

Megan Juhnke, Reid Jansen, Hailey Levasseur, Colin Houts, Mason Jelken, Matthew Pauling, Gisselle Ayala Garcia, Iris Engelhardt 

2019-2020 

Mason Jelken, Reid Jansen, Colin Houts, Matthew Pauling, Jaxn Force, Kenny Lam, Patrick Baughman, Gisselle Ayala Garcia, Chloe Barcus, Bryan Cruz, Ivan Fuhrer 

Membership Activities 

Quiz Bowl meets after school 2 days a week for an hour, where we practice as individuals, pairs, and as teams. 

During the spring of 2020, West held a Virtual Quiz Bowl, where the current Quiz Bowl B team competed with West High Quiz Bowl Alumni. It was a fund weekly format to keep current students active and to reconnect with former team members.   

Events 

View Upcoming Quiz Bowl Events Here

Past Events 

  • Winter Open – BVU (*) 
  • QBTV Qualifier – BVU: 1st in 18, (*) in 18, 4th in 20 
  • QBTV Televised rounds – BVU: 3rd in 18, (*)in 19, 3rd in 20 
  • Iowa Masonic Academic Bowl – Waukee (*) 
  • Iowa Quiz Bowl Championships – Des Moines 
  • SMART Competition – Morningside College: 2nd place in QB portion/Overall scores in 2018, 2019, and 2020 
  • ISU Virtual Quiz Bowl: 9th in 18, 10th in 19, 3rd in 20 

(*) currently don’t have access to results. 

Meet the Advisor 

Activities