CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) —A west suburban public high school has come up big in a national quiz competition.
Westmont High School, which has 350 students, qualified last year for the Scholastic Bowl, but the contest was canceled because of the pandemic.
Coach Tom DeMay said the school’s eight-member team captured this year's Scholastic Bowl national titles for both small and very small schools. The competition was held on Zoom last weekend.
"We were just hoping to make the playoff on Sunday but then once we got to 5-0 on Saturday, we’re like, ‘Oh, snap! We’re on a roll here,’” he told WBBM Newsradio.
Team members work together to answer wide-ranging trivia questions. The Westmont High School participants each bring their own area of expertise, DeMay said.
"Our players are on sports teams. They’re gamers. They’re in the band,” he said.
Senior Stephen Michalik adds: ”Everyone contributes, which is what makes us so successful."
DeMay said it’s the first time an Illinois school has won the Scholastic Bowl. Westmont went 15-0 over the weekend.
DeMay is assisted by coaches Nathan Chamberlain and Margaret Scheidel.
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