For Galesburg High School senior Silas Descalzo, the buzz of competition comes not from a starting gun or a marching band drumline, but from the sharp click of a buzzer in a Scholastic Bowl match. In that instant, knowledge, instinct, and courage collide. “There are a lot of times where you’re only like 70% sure,” he says. “But if you wait until you’re 100%, somebody else has already answered. You have to trust yourself.”

That confidence has served Silas—and his team—well. Known for his strength in history, he has become one of Galesburg’s top competitors, the kind of player who can tip a match with both his recall and his poise under pressure. As a sophomore, he won the Novice Tournament at Limestone, earning the highest score of the day. Now, as a senior, he’s both a leader and a veteran presence on a squad that has grown in numbers, diversity, and recognition.

At its heart, Scholastic Bowl is academic trivia, covering subjects from literature and art to math, science, and the occasional pop culture surprise. But unlike the way trivia is often imagined, every clue must be spoken aloud. Even when the question concerns a painting, it’s described in words. “It’s completely auditory,” explains Coach Eric Spindler. “Even great students who are more visual sometimes struggle with it. It takes practice to adjust to that style.”

Practice for the Silver Streaks means meeting twice a week after school, warming up with online quiz sites like Sporcle before working through packets of questions. Patterns emerge. Toss-up questions usually begin with obscure details and grow steadily easier until a giveaway clue at the end. Successful players, like Silas, learn to anticipate those arcs and buzz in early, balancing confidence with risk. “We often tell them 70% is the line,” says Coach Stu Schaafsma.

Silas’s path shows the balance Scholastic Bowl requires. Beyond the buzzing, he’s a trombone player in the marching band, a runner in cross country and track, and a strong student considering colleges like Indiana Wesleyan, Asbury, or Illinois State. He plans to study history, with dreams of becoming a researcher or professor. “Probably archaeology or higher education,” he says. “I just know it’ll be history.”

What makes Scholastic Bowl special, though, isn’t just the knowledge—it’s the teamwork. Five players compete at a time, each bringing different strengths. “Even if Silas gets all the history questions right, that’s maybe a fourth of what’s out there,” Spindler points out. “You need a diverse team to succeed.” That diversity is something Silas values deeply. “Not just in race or ethnicity,” he says, “but in experiences and skills. Last year, our strength was that balance. Some teams rely on one superstar, but we had a lot of different strengths.”

That balanced approach has paid off. In recent years, Galesburg’s team has won conference, sectionals, and even advanced to state competition. Along the way, they’ve gained support from administrators, parents, and the community. The team now fields up to 20 active members, sometimes competing with two squads at larger tournaments. “We’ve been fortunate to have really motivated students who want to be successful,” Schaafsma says. “Whether we’re here or not, they’d still be driven.”

For Silas, Scholastic Bowl has also been a lesson in humility and connection. “Nobody’s the smartest in the room on everything,” Spindler reflects. “That realization—that you need other people—is valuable.” It’s a perspective that resonates with Silas, who has spent his high school career learning not just facts, but how to trust teammates, take risks, and value what everyone brings.

As he looks toward graduation, Silas carries those lessons forward. Scholastic Bowl may not have the crowds of a football game or the spectacle of a marching band show, but for him, it has offered something just as lasting: the thrill of thinking fast, the joy of learning wide, and the power of leaning on others.

Because in Galesburg, knowledge isn’t just power. It’s teamwork, resilience, and community—delivered one buzzer at a time.