Following their season opener at Del Sol High School last week, Buena’s undefeated Knowledge Bowl team had home advantage March 18, 2026 in their competition against Del Sol and Hueneme High Schools. The team, composed of eight upperclassmen, started their season off strong with five wins, and they don’t look to lose their victory streak any time soon.
As the competition began, groups of student and family spectators entered the library, excited to see the masterminds answer a variety of questions. Questions typically range from geography, to history, to literature, but, most often, they are a completely random topic that keeps team members on their toes.
The first students subbed in were juniors Lucas Dickerson and Paul Nicely, and seniors Dylan Perez and Cole Coyner. With buzzers in hand, these four were prepared to hit the ground running in their first round versus Del Sol.
After the first four questions were asked, the score remained 0-0, until Buena came in with the first point, followed by a correct answer on the bonus question. The Bulldogs remained consistent throughout the first match, answering quickly and restricting Del Sol from gaining any points.
At the halfway point of the first match, the score was 140-0 after standout performances from Nicely and Coyner. The players switched out and seniors Joseph Sullivan, Christopher Sullivan, Madelyn Pierce and Alex Stinnett took their seats, preparing to end the match on a high note.
Audience members were invested in the match, clapping after every point earned and encouraging the players at the desk. After back and forth questions, Buena won 330-50 in a dominating victory to start the competition off strong.
“I feel pretty confident about our win, and I think we did good as a team,” Nicely said. “I am feeling excited for the rest of the season, and hopefully we get the trophy at the end.”
The next team to be battled was Hueneme High School. Round two was kicked off by Dickerson, Coyner, Nicely and Stinnett.
Buena clutched the first point of the round, but Hueneme soon followed with a few points. The teams were going back and forth earning points, making for a nail-biting watch. However, Buena continued to ring in first to answer questions, a strategy that Buena teacher and Knowledge Bowl coach Andrew Coates says has paid off.
“I hammer on them to win the buzzer battle. It is the most important part,” Coates said. “Even though they get [questions] wrong sometimes, it still pays off to be aggressive and to go as quickly as they can.”
As the round came to a close, Buena clung to the lead, ending with a 210-155 victory. Audience members cheered for the triumphant Bulldogs and prepared for round three, which would look different than what was originally scheduled.
The last round was supposed to be played against Oxnard High School, but Buena was notified at the last minute that they would be unable to attend. Considering the large audience turnout, Coates decided to open up the last round to family members, Buena alumni, teachers or anyone that wanted to play against the team for fun.
The first volunteer team was made up of parents, siblings and Buena Knowledge Bowl alum Teddi Maggay. The volunteer team made for an even match for the Knowledge Bowl team, ending the round at about a tie.
After the first half, Coates urged teachers to create a team and have a “teachers versus students” round. They proved to be fierce competitors, pulling forward against Pierce, Nicely, C. Sullivan and J. Sullivan.
The round ended with a 270-215 teacher victory with standout performances from choir director and history teacher Kevin Downey and history teacher Spencer Jacobs. The audience loved seeing teachers and family members compete against the victorious Knowledge Bowl team, with a love for the trivia competition bringing the community together.
“What made the Knowledge Bowl so impressive to me was how some of the students knew random things about history and other topics that we weren’t even taught in school,” senior and audience member Julianna Benson said.
The competitive yet fun environment of the Knowledge Bowl competition fostered an enjoyable spectator experience. Beyond that, the performance given by the Bulldogs proved they are a formidable force to be reckoned with. As the season progresses, the team hopes to remain undefeated and win the championship.
“We have started the season 5-0, which is as good as it can be,” Coates said. “What stands out is that they are loose and having fun, and if they keep that up, I see no reason why we can’t sweep next week too.”
