With a total margin of +70 in the championship round, the West Elk Scholars Bowl team claimed top honors at the Elbing Regional on Thursday, Feb. 1, and earned a spot at the 2A State contest in Moundridge this Saturday, Feb. 10.
The West Elk team went 5-2 in pool play, tallying 135 points, to place second. The Patriots defeated Belle Plaine, 35-30; Erie, 80-20; Garden Plain, 4010; Oxford, 80-30; and Sedan, 40-20. Their two loses were to Northeast, 20-30 and Remington, 4060. From their pool, West Elk, Erie and undefeated Remington advanced to the championships. West Elk went 4-1, defeating Wichita The Independent 60-30; Conway Springs, 40-10, Berean Academy, 30-10 and Remington 3025 and falling to Erie, 3045. The 4-1 championship finish placed them in a tie with Wichita The Independent and with head-tohead action being claimed by the Patriots, West Elk claimed the title. The top three from each regional advances to the state contest. Schools advancing to the 2A State contest include: Atchison-Maur Hill-Mount Academy*, Conway Springs, Ellinwood, Hays-Thomas More Prep-Marian*, Howard-West Elk*, Hutchinson- Trinity Catholic, Lyndon, Moundridge, Salina-Sacred Heard, Shawnee- Maranatha Christian Academy, Sterling and Wichita The Independent. Regional champions are designated with an *.
This year’s team includes, pictured from left to right: coach Mrs. Tucker, alternate Jared Tucker, Clancy Cummings, Savannah Stroot, Zaven Crupper, Andrew Rodriquez and Zoie Crupper.
West Elk was last represented at the state scholars bowl tournament in 2011, where the team (comprised of Taylor Coble, Trae Gillespie, Matthew Gorton, Aaron Miller, Michael Berry and Kathy Altis) placed fourth.
