Parrott takes Quiz Bowl title for fourth straight year

Arendell Parrott Academy’s Quiz Bowl team celebrates its win. The team is, from left, coach Laura Thompson, Allison Christiano, Simal Omer, Natalie Christiano and Alice Paul. Submitted photo.

For the fourth consecutive year, Arendell Parrott Academy’s quiz bowl team captured the winner’s trophy at the Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library competition. Parrott entered Saturday’s final round with no losses, and defeated South Lenoir, 150-85.

The all-female team, coached by Parrott’s new history teacher, Laura Thompson, included Captain Rachel Alexander-Lee, Natalie Christiano, Allison Christiano, Simal Omer and alternate Alice Paul, who played for Alexander-Lee in Rounds 3, 4, and 5. 

Parrott won the bye in a five-team field that included Bethel Christian Academy, Kinston High, North Lenoir and South Lenoir. Playing its first game against South Lenoir, the Patriots captured a tie-breaker victory on a question about Britain’s Gunpowder Plot of 1605. APA went on to defeat Kinston High in Round 3, setting up the final against South Lenoir.

In the 20-point round of the final match, Allison Christiano correctly answered questions about the current NHL Stanley Cup champions and nailed a follow-up about Clemson’s football championship. 

“A lot of people feel girls don’t know about sports,” she admitted, with a smile. Thompson credited APA’s victory to “lots of hard work and effort by our students, but also the phenomenal education they get every day from our APA teachers.” 

Parrott participates in the Regional Quiz Bowl March 23 at Halifax.

This was the 41st quiz bowl tournament sponsored by the Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library.  Quiz Bowl coordinator Sarah Sever expressed appreciation to the event’s sponsors. 

At the end of the competition, librarian and co-coordinator Justin Stout said, “All these teams were talented and gave us a tight competition. It went really well. We congratulate all the competitors for a job well done.”