Westerville North’s varsity team advanced to the quarter finals in WOSU’s “In the Know” tournament by defeating Olentangy High School in a match that was televised on January 27. Their quarter final match, against Dublin Jerome, will be taped on February 2, to be aired at a later date. This year’s competition started with 58 teams.
North’s advisor, for the fifth year, is David Johnston. Players are Hayley Sandvik (senior, second year on varsity team), Tristan Justice (senior, first year on varsity), Madison Richards (senior, first year on varsity), and Matthew Doel (sophomore, first year on varsity).
The team plays in “quiz bowl” type competitions, answering questions that are mainly academic in nature, with a few sports and pop trivia questions thrown in. Students answer individually – they are not allowed to confer – trying to buzz in with the correct answer before the opposing team. They also compete in the Northeast In the Know League, against eight other teams in the Columbus area. North’s varsity team is currently 5-1 in that league, placing behind Bexley and Thomas Worthington, who are tied for first.
Johnston also coaches a JV team at Westerville North, whose members are Ted Li (junior), Will Sampson (junior), Katie Slenker (junior), and John Whitesmith (sophomore).