MG Hi-Q team can’t make up ground

By Steve Powell

spowell@marysvilleglobe.com

MARYSVILLE – Going into Tuesday’s match, Marysville Getchell’s Hi-Q team was in third place.

The team hosted the top two squads – Stanwood and Lake Stevens – with the hope of catching up or even passing them.

That never materialized.

Stanwood showed why it’s the No. 1 team jumping out to a big lead. Lake Stevens consistently stayed in second, while it took awhile for MG to even get on the board.

There were questions on Current Events, American History, Biology, Sports and Math before the Chargers got on the board when Auria Coons-Hale answered a Shakespeare question correctly on the second try for three points. Nathan Weller answered a Geography question correctly for four points just before the break.

Kevin Lockwood got MG off to a good start in the second half, scoring four points on a Chemistry question. But the home team didn’t score in Art History, U.S. History, Literature, Physics or American Government. Lockwood tallied another four points near the end in World History.

The final scores were: Stanwood 53, Lake Stevens 31 and MG 15.

Others playing for MG included: Jessica Abele, Brianna Hammontree, Zack Farry, Erika Krause and Graycen Leonard.

MG coach Dave James said he has one of the youngest teams in the league. They joined Hi-Q three years ago, mostly with freshman. The oldest on the team now are juniors. There are 10 students on the team, but eight compete each match, depending on the subjects in the quiz.

The results of that match made Stanwood the overall winner of the league with 154 points, as MG dropped from third to sixth. Lake Stevens was second with 112, and will host MG (80 total points) and seventh place Lynnwood (68) in the playoffs March 9 at 8:30 a.m.

Third-place Monroe (104) will host the other semifinal with Jackson (84) and Archbishop Murphy (84). Winners will challenge Stanwood the Everett Region Hi-Q championship. The regional champion will compete with champions from Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Alabama in a web-based national championship match March 30.

Meadowdale (67) and Marysville-Pilchuck (62) did not qualify for the playoffs.

MG Hi-Q team can’t make up ground