Correspondent photo / Karla Dines Teams from Warren G. Harding High School, left, and Hubbard High School went head to head at the Academic Prep Bowl on Saturday at Lordstown High School. From left are Harding players Ari Flowers, 15; Zavier Taff, 16; Daniel Long, 16; and Rose Strother, 17. Not pictured is alternate Eliana Burker, 15.

LORDSTOWN — High school students from 17 schools represented by the Trumbull County Educational Service Center tested their knowledge in a variety of subjects at Saturday’s annual Academic Prep Bowl at Lordstown High School.

Each team was composed of four students, plus one alternate, each with a buzzer in hand, answering questions on topics including physical science, life science, literature, mathematics, geography, government, fine arts, pop culture and history.

Bristol High School was the first-place winner, followed by Warren G Harding in second place.

Bristol High School team member Quinn Hochstetler, 17, said, “We practice once a week during our flex period. My strong areas are geography, history, pop culture, and literature. We try to get a lot of diverse knowledge sets.”

When asked about her level of anxiety, Hochstetler replied, “I have to be honest, it’s pretty high. We have been pretty good the last couple of years, and there is a push to maintain (our success). I’ve been in these competitions for seven years, going back to fifth grade.”

Two teams competed head-to-head in each game leading up to the final tournament game. There were rounds in each game, including a Category Round, an Alphabet Round, and a Lightning Round, with a member of TCESC and a coach from each of the two teams keeping score.

The Alphabet Round consisted of 20 questions, with team members each receiving a piece of paper to write the answers. They are told with which letter each answer begins. Each team is given the same list of questions and 4 minutes, working with their team members to arrive at answers.

This TCESC-sponsored event is coordinated by Jaclyn Rausch, curriculum and instruction supervisor. All participating schools practice at their respective schools. The high school teams compete in leagues and other events before the final competition.

Daniel Long, 16, of Lordstown, said, “To prepare for the Prep Bowl, we practice every Tuesday and Wednesday. We read a practice packet before our first match.”

Gavin Mesmer, 16, of Hubbard, said, “We practice in teams. That way, we can cross-communicate. I’m really good at history, pop culture and geography. “

“We practice once a week for an hour, plus a lot of us review stuff in our free time, such as state capitals and countries in South America,” said Maggie Collin, 18, of Mineral Ridge High School.

“Anxiety could be good or bad. It could help you be good on your feet or it could be a negative if you are getting buzzer beat,” said Autumn Navarro, 18, of Girard High School.

Her team practices 3 to 4 p.m. every Monday, with practices beginning in December.

Two Academic Prep Bowl competitions for lower grades will occur in February. The Elementary Academic Prep Bowl will be Feb. 8 at Lordstown High School for students in grades 5 and 6. Teams from the Junior High Academic Prep Bowl, for grades 7 and 8, face off Feb. 22.