Recently the Menchville Academic Team traveled to Richmond to participate in the Battle of the Brains Quiz Bowl and defeated Massaponax High School 345-155. The match will air on CBS 6 TV in Richmond on December 17.

The academic team has had a successful start in the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Conference 10 season. They are currently 2-0. They defeated  Hampton (225-130) and Warwick (200-170).  Both victories avenged the loses taken last year. Team members are  Captain Miles McAllister, Lewis McAllister, Mary Arnold,  Harry Young, Sophia Ramirez and Devin Singh.

The Menchville Academic Team Competitions are a VHSL  varsity activity. This competition, called the Scholastic Bowl,  is similar to Jeopardy.  Students compete by giving the right answers to difficult questions.  Teams play up to nine matches in the Peninsula District competition, including qualification for VHSL District, Regional, and State competitions. The matches draw questions from SOL’s, current culture, and electives. The team competes from October to February.  The conference tournament is in January, early February begins the regional tournament, with  the state championship in late February.

Coach Kevin Murphy  said that the team has a better shot at winning the conference this year than last year. Last year “we had a hard time getting all of our best players together.” Whereas this year a majority of the players have been available  for the after-school meeting every week.  There are fewer clashes with  other activities.