Liberty Bell Knowledge Bowl team members competing in the regionals were, from left, Kenny Hussey, Rocco Wildman and Angel Arellano.
Liberty Bell High School’s 2022-23 Knowledge Bowl season came to end in regional competition on end Feb. 15 at Wenatchee high school.
The Mountain Lions lost a nail-biter that eliminated them from a postseason berth in the state playoffs for the first time in 17 years. Liberty Bell needed to finish in the top two slots to proceed onward.
They were blocked by tough competitors from Manson, Okanogan and Tonasket. Manson was the top school at regionals with a score of 93 points out of 250 questions. Second- and third-place scores were 86 and 84 — with Liberty Bell scoring 83 points for fourth place.
Captain Angel Arellano, senior Rocco Wildman and junior Kenny Hussey represented the team. Coach Leverett Hubbard said illnesses and previous engagements kept the Mountain Lions from fielding a full squad of six students. “With only three students, Liberty Bell did an incredible job and nearly captured a postseason berth,” the coach said.
Throughout the season, Liberty Bell had finished in third and or fourth place at the six regional matches. Hubbard said the team looks to rebuild next year.
The first regional match saw Liberty Bell battle Tonasket and Soap lake. Tonasket came out on top with 15 points while Liberty Bell garnered 11. In the second match Liberty Bell took on Manson and Lake Roosevelt. Manson came out on top with 20 points to Liberty bell’s 10 points. In the third oral round, Liberty Bell picked up an impressive 23 points against Brewster and Pateros.
In the closest match, the fourth of the evening, Liberty Bell and Okanogan battled to a 16-13 score with Okanogan on top. In the written round of competition, Liberty Bell had the second-highest score in the region with 26 points, and Okanagan was on top with 28 points.
