How Knowledge Bowl Works and the Success It Brings
The trophy case for NUHS Knowledge Bowl team
Many people associate New Ulm High School events with sports or band and choir, while events like Knowledge Bowl do not get much recognition.
In 2005, Knowledge Bowl at NUHS was going to be cut because only 6 people went out. Fortunately, Rob Bute, a teacher at New Ulm High School, stepped up and became the advisor of the Eagle’s knowledge bowl team. That year they got 18 kids to join, and around 30 kids the next year.
The past hand full of years have been very successful years for New Ulm Public’s Knowledge Bowl team. Last season the Purple and the White team advanced to the state competition. The Purple team finished the state competition 7th with 117 points. They also went to the Region 9 competition where they placed 2nd with 106 points. The White team finished 18th in state with 96 points.
So how does the Knowledge Bowl team prep to be so victorious in these competitions? They practice. “Practices are team-led on Mondays from 3:10 until 4:00 and then coach-led on Wednesdays from 3:10-4:00,” said advisor Rob Bute. “We get strategies on how to work to get the right answer, and usually play the game for the team to get exposure to the speed.”
The Knowledge Bowl team goes to 5 regular meets a year and then there is the Sub-regional meet, Regions (if they make it), and State (again, if they make it). Last year all six teams qualified for Regions, and as said before, two teams for the State meet.
In a Knowledge Bowl meet, there are five rounds, 4 oral and 1 written. The oral rounds are where three teams are in a room and are competing for points. To gain points, the team must buzz and give the answer within 15 seconds. The written section contains somewhere around 45 multiple choice questions, with five options per answer. The team is allowed to discuss with one another if they are confused by a question.
Mr. Bute loves being the advisor for this group of talented students. “It is a team effort, and it is a lot of fun to see the students compete and learn at the same time.”
