Marianna High School Brain Bowl team captures state championship

By: Shelia Mader

Marianna High School’s Brain Bowl A team brought home the state championship last week, finishing a perfect 10-0 and winning every match decisively on the way to the title.

The championship team was made up of Hunter Baker, Rhett Bethea, Theo Skinner, and Cale Thompson. Marianna High School also fields a B team, adding to the strength and depth of the school’s Brain Bowl program.

For senior Jackson Rhett Bethea, who goes by Rhett, the state title is a major accomplishment, but not the final goal.  “Being a state champion is nice, but the end goal has always been a national championship, so we will keep our noses to the grindstone and keep up our hard work to get there,” Bethea said.

Bethea, a 12th grader and the son of Patrick and Nikki Bethea, is in his second year on the MHS Brain Bowl team. He said he first joined because he wanted to compete in trivia.

“My favorite part of being on the Brain Bowl team is when something you studied comes up and you know the answer before the moderator has finished reading the first sentence of the question,” he said.

After high school, Bethea plans to attend Chipola College, where he hopes to finish his AA degree while competing on the school’s Brain Bowl team, before transferring to the University of West Florida to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.

Theodore Atlas Skinner, who goes by Theo, also credited Brain Bowl with rewarding the kind of knowledge he enjoys learning outside the classroom.

“I was first interested in Brain Bowl when I discovered that a lot of the knowledge I learned outside of school was rewarded, such as geography and current events,” Skinner said.

Skinner, the son of Dustin Skinner and Jennifer Neff, has been part of MHS Brain Bowl for nearly two years, joining during his sophomore year. He said one of his favorite parts of the competition is the exposure to a wide range of topics.

“My favorite part of Brain Bowl is the wide variety of interesting things you are exposed to, like scenic locations around the globe, literary origins of famous media, and the scientific concepts that define technology around the world,” he said.

Skinner said winning the state title was especially meaningful given the level of competition.  “Being a state champion feels amazing, especially against the formidable team that is Frazer, whose science students are among the best in the nation,” he said.

He said chemistry is his favorite subject because it connects practical, real-world applications with the more abstract concepts found in physics and math. After graduation, he plans to study chemical engineering and said he will likely attend the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Brain Bowl sponsor and coach Christi Shelfer, now in her second year leading the team, said the team’s success comes from the students’ own drive and commitment.  “I don’t know that I do motivate them,” Shelfer said. “They are extremely driven and want to win and study on their own. I provide them with a comfortable setting for them to practice and learn from each other.”

Shelfer said the team played 10 rounds and remained undefeated through the tournament. Looking ahead, she said the next challenge will be the national stage.  “I have zero experience with nationals,” Shelfer said. “I hope we do well.”

The team will travel to Chicago at the end of April for the Small School Championship and then to Atlanta at the end of May for the large/private school national championship.

Shelfer also pointed to the educators who helped shape the students long before the state title run.  “I give credit to all the great teachers my team has received not only at MHS but also at K-8,” she said. “My team is a testament to the really great educators we have in Marianna.”

MHS Principal Kerry Gilmore was beyond proud of this group of students and their leader,  “We are incredibly proud of our Academic Team and all they have accomplished. Over the past few years, the program has experienced tremendous growth under the leadership of Ms. Christi Shelfer. Her dedication, along with the hard work and commitment of our students, has truly elevated the team to a new level of success.  Winning the state championship is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the countless hours these students have invested in preparing and competing. Their discipline, teamwork, and passion for learning are now paying off in a big way. We are excited to see them represent our school as they travel to Chicago in the coming weeks to compete at the national level. This is a well-deserved opportunity, and we could not be more proud of this outstanding group of students.  Go Dogs!”

With a state championship secured and national competitions ahead, Marianna High School’s Brain Bowl team is not slowing down anytime soon.