Colby Middle School Scholars Bowl Teams Wrap Up Successful Season
March 10, 2026
The Colby Middle School Scholars Bowl teams wrapped up their 2025–26 season earlier this month, closing out a strong year of academic competition with impressive records and several tournament placings.
Under the direction of head coach Sherry Kinderknecht, the program featured 14 students across the seventh and eighth grade teams. Practices began before Christmas and continued through early March as students prepared for tournaments across the region.
“We had a really successful season,” Kinderknecht said. “I had 14 students go out for Scholars Bowl and they worked really hard. We start practice before Christmas and don’t end until March. It’s a long season, but the kids are devoted to it.”
The eighth grade team led the way with a 57–13 overall record. During the season, the group captured five first-place finishes while also adding two third-place finishes and one fourth-place result in tournament play.
The seventh grade squad also turned in a strong performance throughout the year, finishing with a 45–23 overall record. They recorded one tournament championship, two runner-up finishes, three third-place finishes, and one fourth-place result during the season.
Both teams concluded their season with a final tournament at Phillipsburg on March 5. The eighth graders finished in first place with a 9–1 record, while the seventh grade team placed fourth with a 7–3 mark.
Earlier in the week, Colby also competed at the GWAC Scholars Bowl Tournament on March 2. The seventh grade team placed second with a 4–2 record, while the eighth graders finished the event with a 3–3 record against a competitive league field.
Kinderknecht said the long season requires dedication from the students, many of whom balance Scholars Bowl with other winter activities.
“Many of them are participating in other activities as well,” she said. “We juggle wrestling, we juggle basketball, and they still make time to compete.”
She also praised the teamwork displayed by the students throughout the season, particularly during the final tournament.
“My seventh graders really impressed me at the last one,” Kinderknecht said. “They showed a lot of teamwork and made sure everybody had a chance to compete in the rounds.”
Rather than singling out individual performers, Kinderknecht emphasized that the success of the team came from the collective effort of the entire group.
“I think it was just a great team all together,” she said. “Everybody had success in one way or another throughout the season.”
Members of the Colby Middle School Scholars Bowl teams included eighth graders Liam Baalmann, Zoey Bandy, Journey Carney, Noah Dake, Abigail Jamison, and Gus Nordquist.
The seventh grade team included Levi Brewer, Milo Burvee, Gideon Dake, Marcus Johnson, Cashlyn Moss, Dalton Weinman, Keitrick Williams, and Trae Williams.
With the season now complete, the eighth graders will move on to the high school level next year while the middle school program will continue to build its roster with younger students interested in academic competition.
For Colby Middle School, the season served as another example of strong academic teamwork and dedication as the Eagles represented their school well throughout the year.