Nude BAAL Descending A Staircase
Quiz Bowl Tournament
NAQT HS NCT Qualifier
February 18th, 2006 @ De La Salle High School, Concord, CA
Concord, CA - After long suspicion, it was proved that indeed Marcel Duchamp had an affinity for Phoenician art as his work "Nude BAAL Descending a Staircase, No.1" was uncovered in Concord, CA and became the subject of a quiz tournament put on by the Bay Area Academic League, in conjunction with De La Salle High School in Concord, CA, located about 30 miles east of San Francisco, and using questions provided by National Academic Quiz Tournaments, LLC.
In the first tournament of the year, 18 teams from 12 unique high schools assembled on the campus of De La Salle High School and played 8 rounds of quiz bowl, a game played using a buzzer system where students in teams of 4 answer questions that span all academic topics plus sports and popular culture.
After 7 rounds of play, the A team from Bentley School, Lafayette, CA was the only undefeated team, and having previously beaten all of the 1-loss teams earlier in the day was declared the tournament winner. Congratulations to Brett, Hayden, Seth and Aaron. Bentley school took home a trophy as well as bolstered their bid to the 2006 NAQT HS National Championship Tournament, to be held at the Crowne Plaza O'Hare in Chicago, IL the weekend of June 3rd, 2006.
The team from Mission San Jose (Fremont, CA) and a team from Albany High School finished 2nd and 3rd respectively. Teams from San Mateo High School and Monta Vista High (Cupertino, CA) rounded out the top 5.
The Nude BAAL Descending a Staircase QuizbowlTournament used NAQT IS-57A in which teams began the day playing 5 power matched rounds. After a lunch break, teams were grouped based on record. Bentley in its afternoon matches defeated Mission San Jose and San Mateo B (both previously undefeated) to climb into first place.
The tournament top scorer was Chris Tandiono of Mission San Jose (92.14 points per game), followed by Brett Hallahan of Bentley A (77.14 ppg), followed by Anthony Bello of Monta Vista and Richard of Santa Teresa A (both 76.43 ppg).
Many thanks again to all those who contributed to the success of this event: De La Salle High School, in particular Lou Ascatigno, coach of De La Salle's quiz team who arranged for the facility and helped coordinate resources, (including breakfast).
Also to the volunteers: Gaius, Clem and his wife, Alice, Charles Wilson, Jared Wilke, Pam, and Lou. Thanks to each and every school who attended -, Albany, Bentley, Berkeley, Campolindo, Mission San Jose, Monta Vista, Riordan, Saint Joseph Notre Dame, San Leandro, San Mateo, Santa Teresa and of course De La Salle for hosting!