Winning a Scholar Bowl tournament requires much more than quick answers. It takes preparation, strategy, and a team that understands how to rely on each other’s strengths. That combination helped the Unity Point School Scholar Bowl team capture the Region 8 championship this year, finishing a season that showcased both academic talent and strong teamwork.

Eighth graders Eli Sagaskie, Blake Kocher, and Braden Cook were part of the team that earned the regional title. Along with teammates Holden Woolridge, Aishani Mukerji, Will Presley, and Subomi Badejo—and with seventh grader Humza Ahmad serving as an alternate—the group built an impressive season record. Eli explains that the team finished the year with only one loss. “Our record was 24–1,” he says, noting that the team competed in nearly twenty-five matches from November through February.

Scholar Bowl competitions challenge students across a wide range of subjects. Questions may cover literature, mathematics, science, history, grammar, sports, and current events. Five players compete at a time while other teammates rotate in or support the team from the bench.

Although only five students play during each round, the entire roster contributes to preparation. Braden explains that practices involve everyone studying and sharing knowledge so the team is ready for any topic.

The team practiced every Tuesday during the school’s extended learning period beginning in October. Their sponsor, Ms. Amanda Hilt, a sixth-grade literature teacher at Unity Point, guided the group through weekly preparation sessions. Students first had to qualify for the team by taking a written test covering a wide variety of academic subjects.

Once the season began, matches were held nearly every Wednesday against schools across Southern Illinois. The team competed against programs from Marion, Carterville, Herrin, Anna-Jonesboro, Murphysboro, Harrisburg, and several other schools. Blake says the steady schedule helped the team sharpen its skills. “Most weeks we had a match,” he explains, adding that some days even included doubleheaders.

Their strong regular-season performance earned the Trojans a place in the Region 8 tournament, which brought together thirty-five teams from across the region. The competition was held over two days at Cornerstone Church in Marion, where teams advanced through elimination rounds until only one remained.

After winning their early matches, Unity Point advanced to the championship round, where they faced Carbondale Middle School. The matchup carried extra meaning because many of the students from both teams will attend Carbondale High School next year. Eli remembers the moment clearly. “We played Carbondale Middle School to win the whole thing,” he says.

Strategy also played an important role in the team’s success. Scholar Bowl teams often adjust their lineup depending on the topics expected in a match. Blake explains that players recognize each other’s strengths and step in when their subject area appears. “If there were a lot of literature questions, we might switch someone in who’s stronger in that area,” he says.

That approach works because every player shares the same goal: helping the team succeed. Blake says the team focused on winning together rather than individual playing time. “I don’t care if I play as long as we win,” he says.

Each player brings specific strengths to the competition. Eli says he performs best on English-based questions, such as spelling and grammar. Blake enjoys tackling math problems and sports trivia, while Braden says his strengths include sports, spelling, and history questions.

Outside of Scholar Bowl, the students remain active in other school activities, especially athletics. All three participate in multiple sports, including basketball, baseball, football, wrestling, and track. Their ability to balance sports with academic competition reflects the well-rounded environment encouraged at Unity Point School.

As they prepare to move on to high school next year, the students say their experiences at Unity Point have helped shape both their confidence and their friendships. Eli says the strong sense of community at the school plays an important role in that experience. “The community here is great,” he says, explaining that the relationships students build with classmates and teachers make the school a supportive place to learn. Blake agrees, noting that many students have known one another since their earliest school years. “We’ve had teachers we’ve known since pre-K,” he says. “They support us, and we support them.”

For the Unity Point Scholar Bowl team, that sense of community helped create the foundation for a season that ended with a regional championship—and memories that will stay with them long after the final question was answered.