SSFS Quiz Bowl Team Earns Bronze Medal in MABL Championship

Post-Match Summary of MABL Championship Round

Among the remaining Great Eight, SSFS—represented by Diego, (Captain), Justin (Assistant Captain), Ian, and Steve, and supported by Benji, Henry, and Catherine—felt honored to have earned the right to compete in the MABL Championship Round (for the tenth consecutive season) alongside seven other formidable academic programs.

The eight finalists were divided into two seeded brackets of four teams apiece (A1-4 & B1-4) based solely on the semifinal round. Each team played a total of four matches. The first three games were played in a round-robin format from within the bracket, and the final games were played to establish the final rankings (i.e., for 1st and 2nd Place, 3rd and 4th Place, 5th and 6th Place, or 7th and 8th Place). For our first three matches, SSFS found itself in a bracket with...

Group A:

• B-CC A (3-0 & 1225)
• Whitman (2-1 & 1230)
• SSFS (2-1 & 1365)
• Magruder (2-1 & 1405)

Group B:

• Blair A (3-0 & 1515)
• Poolesville (2-1 & 1180)
• Rockville A (2-1 & 1410)
• Wootton (2-1 & 1215)

Perhaps more important than our external opponents was our internal struggle with our reality. By this being the MABL Championship Round, we understood that the competitive Quiz Bowl season—something we love—is coming to its inevitable end. For this teacher/coach, helping my students/team identify and reconcile with this poignant reality is an especially important and maturing passage from innocence to experience. This is an exponentially heightened reality for a senior for whom such "ends" are most sensitive. Having reached the MABL Championship Round ensured that we had truly maximized our shared opportunity together. Nonetheless, win, lose, or draw, the MABL season would end today. Aware of this shared "mortality," all I asked of the team was to seize the day. Carpe diem. Make the most of your given time together. That said, there was still a MABL Championship Round to play. In the role of David against these goliaths, SSFS was the only private school to advance to the MABL Championship Round and the smallest school in the competition by far. 

Within special teams, there is a recognition of how precious and sacred the inner circle is. For example, if you're in SSFS Quiz Bowl, it's hard to explain what makes it so special, and if you're not in SSFS Quiz Bowl, it's hard to understand what makes it so special. There's an intangible quality to our shared experience. By way of these post-match summaries, I try to give the reader a glimpse into our world. While I try to articulate the "precious," I take care not to divulge too much of the "sacred." In that spirit, I will share that this little program of ours has managed to ingratiate itself with so many in our community. past, present, and future. I think it's pretty powerful that alumni and alumni families follow SSFS Quiz Bowl and cheer us on from afar. I think it's equally special that SSFS Quiz Bowl inspires aspiring students in our community, is held in the Light by faculty and staff, and helps heighten school pride. This "Little Engine" of ours that is SSFS Quiz Bowl inspires others to think of and root for us in so many beautifully thoughtful ways. Undoubtedly, this extraordinary support only helps to fuel our team, just a little bit more. But if that weren't enough, our faithful Captain Diego chose to bring his varsity teammates together to share with them a reading of Rudyard Kipling's poem If, underscoring the importance of composure, integrity, and humility, and never letting "Triumph" nor "Disaster"—events either good or bad—go to one's head.

Here’s how SSFS fared:

MABL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND (SSFS 3-1-0) and (1,915 PF – 1,345 PA):

• vs. Whitman: W (550-205)
• vs. Blair A: L (330-530)
• vs. Wootton: W (565-265)
• vs. Rockville: W (470-345) Bronze Medal Match

SSFS AVERAGE POINTS PER GAME: 479
SSFS POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME: 336

When the dust settled, here is how the 2024-2025 MABL Championship Round finished up: 

Opening our Championship Round against Whitman was a kind of litmus test, as we had just lost to them, two weeks ago to the day, in the Semifinal Round. As driven and determined as possible, our performance was a tour de force, leading from start to finish, expanding our lead with each round of the match, and ultimately avenging our defeat two weeks ago in emphatic fashion: 550-205. Frankly, Whitman didn't know what hit them.

Having to square off in Game 2 against Blair A, last year's MABL Champion, was an equally formidable challenge. Before this year, SSFS had only defeated Blair A in one MABL match in over a decade. This year, we faced Blair A twice in the regular season, in Round 2 and again in Round 6, defeating them both times, but by the narrowest of margins most recently (450-440). Beating any good team three times in a row is not an easy task. Beating Blair A three times in a row is unprecedented in the MABL...by anyone. While we gave it our best shot and were neck and neck (250-255) entering the fourth and final round of the match, Blair A caught fire in the Bonus Round and earned a well-fought victory. We played well, but Blair A played better. Alas, this singular loss would deny us a shot at the Gold Medal match, but we had no reason to hang our heads and so much still to play for, including an opportunity to fight for the Bronze Medal. 

Our third match against Wootton would be another rematch, this time against our first MABL opponent of this year, a victory in our favor in Game of Round 1 this season. That said, months had passed since that showdown, and Wootton had grown from that early slip and demonstrated their excellence by having earned a rightful spot in today's Championship Round. Nonetheless, SSFS, inspired by the opportunity to earn a shot at the Bronze medal, would prove too hungry and too much for Wootton. Not unlike the Whitman match, SSFS led from start to finish and demonstrated great resolve and response in Game 3 to our loss in Game 2, defeating Wootton 565-265 and earning that shot at the Bronze medal in our decisive Game 4.

Having played our first three matches and finishing with a record of 2-1-0, we were pitted against Rockville HS to vie for third place. As a reminder, Rockville HS is a strong program with whom we've built an equally strong relationship over many years. They are coached by the legendary Dr. Dave Goodrich, a mentor and now friend of mine. Almost everything I've learned about academic competition was inspired by Dr. Goodrich. For many years, he was the Commissioner of the MABL, and in my early years, he graciously took me under his wing. I am indebted to Dr. Goodrich and respect him immensely as a competitor, coach, and citizen. He is an exemplary human being. Consequently, it's a little awkward to vie for coveted hardware against someone we cherish. But games are meant to be played, and we aspire to do our best with whomever we're confronted. Kudos to SSFS for rolling up their proverbial sleeves and competing with vigor. As good as Rockville is, SSFS was simply better on this day, yet again leading from start to finish and claiming the Bronze medal and MABL Third Place plaque. Bravo, 'Beests! 

From a historic programmatic perspective, today's three impressive victories moved our program to 356 wins, and with the It's Academic Semifinals yet to come this season! What SSFS Quiz Bowl has accomplished, since the academic year 2013-14 -- and please do not lose sight of the Goliaths we face -- is unparalleled by any SSFS team, athletic or academic, and a tribute to all those 'Beest Quizards from the past to the present who have elevated SSFS' academic reputation in the surrounding area, one Quiz Bowl match at a time, and blessed me with cherished memories and friendships.

While today's Championship Round brought an inevitable end to our MABL season, our competitive season is not over yet (see WHAT'S NEXT? below). Consequently, I will wait to pay tribute to our amazing senior captain, Diego, at the right time.

WHAT'S NEXT?

With our MABL season now concluded, what remains? SSFS has emerged (yet again) among the Top 9 teams remaining from a starting pool of 81 participating schools on television's It's Academic. As a result, SSFS is slated to square off in a semifinal bout on It's Academic against Bethesda-Chevy Chase (B-CC) and Georgetown Day School in a match scheduled to be taped in the WETA studios on Saturday, April 5, 2025. Onward and upward, 'Beests!

Also of interest: A developing documentary, Buzzer Beaters: The Story of It's Academic, directed and produced by Liz Bragale, is coming soon! See the flyer, and/or visit buzzerbeatersmovie.com.

To learn more about Quiz Bowl at SSFS, here is a closer look at...

• SSFS Quiz Bowl Team 2024-2025 Results, Schedule, Program Records & Recommended Practice 
• An Introduction to SSFS Quiz Bowl (video)
• SSFS Quiz Bowl (short feature)