Grygla students participate in Knowledge Bowl

Grygla students are a few weeks in to Knowledge Bowl. Co-advisors of the club are Drew Kjono and Jesse Westbrock. Practice is held once a week during lunch. The group then competes weekly in Thief River Falls for meets with 42-45 other area schools every Wednesday. The schedule runs through the end of February, with the Sub-Regional meet being held February 28th. 

When asked how the Grygla team is doing and if they have been amongst the top teams, Kjono offered, “The wins and losses for Knowledge Bowl is more like how a track meet is done with places and an overall ranking; each week it changes. The juniors and seniors usually finish in the top 25 range while our freshmen and sophomores usually finish toward the bottom. The places are not too important to us because we focus on how the students improve each week and each year. When we bring a team of freshmen and they are in a room with a team of seniors from Bemidji or Thief River Falls, chances are they are not going to win that round. Our focus is on getting quicker to buzz in and answer every question.”

Some towns will have set “A” and “B” teams, but Grygla typically alternates between two teams of juniors and seniors and two teams of sophomores and freshmen. Kjono added, “We think it’s a little better for the kids as more of them get experience with the format and questions. It’s great to see how the kids progress through the years. Already, we can see how the older kids have improved from years prior, and the younger kids are getting their feet wet in how a varsity meet operates.” 

Knowledge Bowl students include: (Seniors) Carlye Kiesow, Hailey Vad, Alaina Monson, Brooke Limesand, Clay Irlbeck; (Juniors) Abby Kiesow, Jaden Kiesow, Lucian Tinnes, Cheyenne Irlbeck, Olivia Tykward, Peyton Grandstrand, Jaden Kiesow, Jake Ahlbeck; (Sophomores) Bailey Watne, Layla Jelle, Cory Cleven; (Freshmen) Levi Kiesow, Jared Haack, Eli Sundberg, Chloe Kuznia, Madison Cullen

Junior High Knowledge Bowl will start their meets towards the end of March with two dates being set for March 20th (4-6pm in Grygla) and March 27th (during school hours in TRF). The Junior High roster includes: (8th grade) Walter Jones, Justin Thompson, Nolan Anderson, Andrew Loken, Brigette Watne, Katelyn Larson; (7th grade) Reece Sundberg, Sheldin Sundberg, Dane Arveson