WE MADE IT!: A thankful Clarendon team.(from left) Felecia Gray (captain), Carlene Plummer, Krishna Bassaragh, and John Binns. - Michael Sloley
CLARENDON College advanced to the quarter-finals of TVJ's Schools' Challenge Quiz Competition on Monday night after they defeated Charlemont High School in what was probably the most gruelling match of the competition yet.
Obviously sobered by the somewhat difficult questions thrown at them by Quiz mistress Marline Stephenson, Clarendon's captain, Felecia Gray, appreciated the win with humility. "To me, the match was not easy. It was just who could be more focused. It has been a long time (five years) since Clarendon has reached the quarter-finals, so we are pleased with our performance."
Frank Weise, Clarendon's coach, praised his team. "I think they performed very well given the nature of the match. I am quite satisfied with the results," he said.
Defeat was slow and painful for the losing team. The shock was still evident in the expressions of Charlemont's team at the end of the match. "I thought we could have won the match...I can't say anything more, I'm not thinking straight," said Aldion Lee, the 12-year-old captain of the young team as he fought hard to hold back tears.
The buzz of excitement that greeted the first two minutes, was gradually transformed into an intense silence as it became clear that the questions were testing the minds of the young competitors.
Clarendon registered correct answers for their first four questions in section one but soon countered their initial success with a slew of incorrect answers. Charlemont missed their first two questions but regained momentum on the three questions which followed.
At the end of section one both teams were locked on eight points each. The only sounds heard when the bell rang were the whispers of the anxious audience. It was too difficult to make the call at this point.
The second round was more decisive than the first. Even though both teams fought hard in the mental battle, Clarendon soon inched their way to a small but significant lead at the end of the second section. The scores were now 19-15. From all appearances, the small lead bolstered the Clarendon team with cautious confidence.
Charlemont, despite their efforts to remain composed, began showing signs of anxiety mixed with a stubborn desire which seemed to say "We are not giving up without a fight."
In the final section of the match, Charlemont made a desperate attempt at a comeback which proved futile. Minutes before the final bell rang the curtain had started to come down on their act. Clarendon took their questions slowly and were on top when the match was over. The score, Clarendon College 28, Charlemont High 17.
When asked if he would be back in the competition next year, 12-year-old Charlemont captain Aldion Lee replied,"I don't know...but if I do, next year the trophy will be ours."
