Liberty Bell Team 1 – from left, Tova Portman-Bown, Lazo Gitchos, Emerson Worrell and Nick Fitzmaurice – took first place at Manson.
The Liberty Bell High School Knowledge Bowl team, last year’s second-place finisher at the state 2B tournament, has started the 2018-19 season with two impressive wins — and coach Leverett Hubbard is expecting good things.
“Losing only two starters from last year [Noah Batson and Liliana Hart-Beck], this team looks to be one of the strongest ever,” Hubbard said.
The season started on Dec. 3 in Tonasket, and included Brewster, Pateros and Okanogan. “This opening match was marked by low participation rate of other schools,” Hubbard said. “Many student competitors were absent and schools fielded less than full-strength teams, as only 10 teams were present. Liberty Bell Team 1 defeated all of its competition in three rounds of questions and came away with 56 points.”
Team 1 included captain Lazo Gitchos, Emerson Worrell, Nick Fitzmaurice and Sam Neitlich. Liberty Bell Team 2 — Michael Mott, Tova Portman-Bown, Zach Griffin and Lindsay Worrell — took second place at the meet. Okanogan Team 1 finished third.
On Jan. 9, Liberty Bell traveled to Manson where 30 teams from 11 schools were competing, including 4A Moses Lake.
“In past competitions the Mountain Lions have been unable to defeat Moses Lake,” Hubbard said. “The largest school in the North Central Region is able to draw from a student body of nearly 2,000 students. Their depth has made them dominant and always the strongest competition throughout the season. Typically we see them once a year and have always been out-matched.”
Gitchos, Emerson Worrell, Fitzmaurice and Portman-Bown teamed up to best Moses Lake in the second round, Hubbard said. “The victory serves as a benchmark on how the students will perform against the highest-caliber teams,” the coach said. In round one Liberty Bell Team 1 defeated Manson Team 1 and Soap Lake Team 1; and won over Moses Lake Team 2 and Okanogan Team 3 in round 3.
Liberty Bell Team 2 was captained by Neitlich, with Lindsay Worrell and Zach Griffin. Alex Eslava and Per Dillingham alternated throughout the evening for the fourth position. They defeated Tonasket Team 2 and Chelan Team 2 in round one; Eastmont Team 2 and Soap Lake Team 1 in round two; and Manson Team 5 and Chelan Team 3 in the third round.
Liberty Bell Team 1, with 63 total points, edged Moses Lake Team 1 with 56 points for the win. Liberty Bell Team 2 finished third.
The next match is at Okanogan next Wednesday (Jan. 23), followed by a home meet on Jan. 28.
