After rounds of competing, the time had come for Buena to try and win back the Betty Rutherford Perpetual Trophy, at their final competition Mar. 20. Despite the unfavorable conclusion to the season, the team still gave their all and grew from the first day to the last.
Round 10 of the third competition against opponent Rancho Campana started with four players per team, having the ability to switch players out at half. For Buena, seniors Michale Ramirez, Devon Swanson Hollinger, Indiana Davis, and junior Teddi Maggay started.
“It is definitely a team effort, we have to trust each other to answer questions,” Maggay said.
Once it hit half both teams switched in players and Buena had moved ahead by a large amount. The point system consists of 10 points per toss up question, 20 for bonus questions, and negative five for penalties.
“We need to have a quick reaction time to answer before the other team,” team captain Ramirez said. “We know the answers, we just need to be confident in [ringing] it in.”
The tenth round ended with another win for Buena who had a total of 305 points and Rancho with 95. But despite the win, the team knew they still had a hard night of competition ahead of them. The eleventh round was against St. Bonaventure.
By half Buena had only answered three successful toss up questions and St. Bonaventure had answered six. Despite the lead the opponent had, the questions were proving to be challenging for both teams.
“I am proud of [my team] for sticking it out, it was a tough team and round,” Davis said.
The round ended with Buena at 65 points and St. Bonaventura at 220. Despite the loss the team remained in high spirits and prepared for their final round against Rio Mesa.
While senior Vinay Varma believes the team’s weak point that night was communication, Swanson Hollinger maintained the idea that the team has grown in supporting each other from their first competition to their last.
“They grew in confidence and [became] a lot closer,” coach Andrew Coates said. “The competition did get [more difficult] but they grew a lot.”
Round 13 proved to be another challenge, and just when Buena had started to make a comeback the round was over. Rio Mesa ended with 235 points and Buena with 150. While this was not the ending they wanted, the team showed good sportsmanship and were able to celebrate the fact that overall they did well in the tournament through three competitions.
“We fought the good fight, we did get stomped a bit,” Davis said. “But we had fun.”
Next year with only one returner the team will have their hands full but Coates and Maggay are not deterred. The two are ready to recruit members next school year and create a more diverse team that will be able to answer all questions no matter the subject.
“I want a diverse team [and] a quick team,” Coates said. “And of course I want to win.”
