CHS Academic Team Prepares for Tournament Thursday, February 12, 2009 By Morgan Breckenridge [ArticleImageHyperLink] Advertising On February 28 the Cameron High School Academic Team will participate in the Midland Empire Conference Academic Bowl. Both the varsity and junior varsity teams will be competing in the all day competition.   Unlike athletics, the academic team does not keep track of a record. "When we go to tournaments, we play several matches. We usually make it into the afternoon round."   This may appear to be an advantage for schools as their team can virtually start each competition with a clean slate.   Freshman and varsity member Zane Clark thinks the academic team is competing very well this season. "[We're] doing pretty good, especially since we go up against big schools from Kansas City," he says.   This Saturday will prove to be a tough and crowded day of competition for everyone in the Midland Empire Conference. Savannah, Smithville, Bishop LeBlond, Benton, and Chillicothe will all be traveling to CHS to compete. "[The bowl] is not really so much a tournament as it is just the Midland Empire Conference's Academic season. Our whole season is in one day," says Mrs. Fagan.   The competition will be played round robin style. "Everybody will play everybody, both on the varsity and junior varsity side."   While the varsity team can move onto and place in the competition, the junior varsity team's season ends once they have played everyone.   Mrs. Fagan says the team has been practicing for quite some time. "[The competition] covers everything from the core curricular areas plus sports, pop culture, and vocational areas."   As for the academic bowl itself, the members look optimistic. Sophomore, and Junior Varsity Member Ryan Markle thinks the varsity team will get 3rd place in the conference.   "I think varsity will do pretty good. They always are," says Freshman Taylor Bogle.   Mrs. Fagan is also looking hopeful towards Saturday. "I'm hoping we will be fairly competitive this year. We've got a pretty good team, and I think against the MEC we'll do well."   The CHS Academic Team will be practicing every day after school until the competition, memorizing facts, working on the buzzers, and doing worksheets. Hopefully their diligent hard work will pay off on Saturday.

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