Middle School dominates field in Gallatin Quiz Bowl Tournament
Congratulations to Charlie Blau '27, Basil Broemel '28, Lucia Gellert '27, and Karsen Puzniak '27 on bringing home first place and to Ayla Acra '27, Liam Mooney '28, Aaron Raney '27, and Ruchika Ramachandran '27 to taking second. For the first time in school history, members of the Middle School quiz bowl team took the top two spots in a tournament.
By Richard Rosenthal, MS Latin Teacher & Quiz Bowl Coach
As the NCAA men's basketball final four unfolded on Saturday, April 1, USN middle schoolers on the quiz bowl team found themselves facing off in a final four as well. After battling their way through a pool of 52 teams at the largest-ever Gallatin Quiz Bowl Tournament, USN students proved dominant with two teams of Tigers remaining as the field narrowed to just four spots.
In one semifinal, USN A (Charlie Blau '27, Basil Broemel '28, Lucia Gellert '27, and Karsen Puzniak '27) faced last year’s champion, White Station Middle School. In the other semifinal, USN B (Ayla Acra '27, Liam Mooney '28, Aaron Raney '27, and Ruchika Ramachandran '27) faced the fall semester champion Brentwood Middle School.
USNA knocked out reigning champions, White State A, with a final score of 485 to 100. Meanwhile, USN B emerged victorious over Brentwood A at 395 to 275. As a result, the final match of the tournament was a face-off between USN Tigers.
USN B got the three first three questions to take an early lead, but USN A came storming back. Although great friends, the two teams battled fiercely to buzz first. The match ended as it started with USN B answering the final question, but it was not enough to retake the lead.
Charlie, Basil, Lucia, and Karsen won with a score of 450 to 210. They were undefeated for the day.
Ayla, Liam, Aaron, and Ruchika took home the second place trophy making school history as now USN quiz bowl team had not previously taken the top two spots in a tournament.
The deep and talented Middle School quiz bowl team brought 25 players on six teams. Each team qualified for the Gold Division Playoffs. Preston Chan '29, Clio Cherry-Pulay '29, Elliot George '29, Asher Huffman '29, and Lucas Little '29 placed 14th. Elinor Bird '29, Matthew Golann '29, Harper Hughey '29, and Vihaan Sinha '29 finished 21st. Olivia Brown '27, Asha Guha '28, Eesha Nachnani '28, and Coco Shepard '27 tied with Garrett Northwall '28, Kevin Song '28, Charlotte Soslow '28, and Annie Williamson '28 for 25th.
Individually, Karsen was the seventh highest scorer. Charlie and Aaron were 16th and 19th, respectively.
The quiz bowl team would like to thank Sixth Grade Science Teacher Amy Dortch, Eighth Grade English Teacher Christine Park, and Seventh Grade Science Teacher Heather Webber '82, as well as parents Kelly Carden and Emoke Pulay for coaching teams.
As Middle School quiz bowl students excelled in Gallatin, High School quiz bowl team members Rohan Ramachandran '25 and Jackson Green '26 represented USN at the National Association of Quiz Tournaments 2023 Individual Player National Championship in Chicago where they competed against the nation's top high school quiz bowl players. Rohan and Jackson came in 107 and 142, respectively.
Back
As the NCAA men's basketball final four unfolded on Saturday, April 1, USN middle schoolers on the quiz bowl team found themselves facing off in a final four as well. After battling their way through a pool of 52 teams at the largest-ever Gallatin Quiz Bowl Tournament, USN students proved dominant with two teams of Tigers remaining as the field narrowed to just four spots.
In one semifinal, USN A (Charlie Blau '27, Basil Broemel '28, Lucia Gellert '27, and Karsen Puzniak '27) faced last year’s champion, White Station Middle School. In the other semifinal, USN B (Ayla Acra '27, Liam Mooney '28, Aaron Raney '27, and Ruchika Ramachandran '27) faced the fall semester champion Brentwood Middle School.
USNA knocked out reigning champions, White State A, with a final score of 485 to 100. Meanwhile, USN B emerged victorious over Brentwood A at 395 to 275. As a result, the final match of the tournament was a face-off between USN Tigers.
USN B got the three first three questions to take an early lead, but USN A came storming back. Although great friends, the two teams battled fiercely to buzz first. The match ended as it started with USN B answering the final question, but it was not enough to retake the lead.
Charlie, Basil, Lucia, and Karsen won with a score of 450 to 210. They were undefeated for the day.
Ayla, Liam, Aaron, and Ruchika took home the second place trophy making school history as now USN quiz bowl team had not previously taken the top two spots in a tournament.
The deep and talented Middle School quiz bowl team brought 25 players on six teams. Each team qualified for the Gold Division Playoffs. Preston Chan '29, Clio Cherry-Pulay '29, Elliot George '29, Asher Huffman '29, and Lucas Little '29 placed 14th. Elinor Bird '29, Matthew Golann '29, Harper Hughey '29, and Vihaan Sinha '29 finished 21st. Olivia Brown '27, Asha Guha '28, Eesha Nachnani '28, and Coco Shepard '27 tied with Garrett Northwall '28, Kevin Song '28, Charlotte Soslow '28, and Annie Williamson '28 for 25th.
Individually, Karsen was the seventh highest scorer. Charlie and Aaron were 16th and 19th, respectively.
The quiz bowl team would like to thank Sixth Grade Science Teacher Amy Dortch, Eighth Grade English Teacher Christine Park, and Seventh Grade Science Teacher Heather Webber '82, as well as parents Kelly Carden and Emoke Pulay for coaching teams.
As Middle School quiz bowl students excelled in Gallatin, High School quiz bowl team members Rohan Ramachandran '25 and Jackson Green '26 represented USN at the National Association of Quiz Tournaments 2023 Individual Player National Championship in Chicago where they competed against the nation's top high school quiz bowl players. Rohan and Jackson came in 107 and 142, respectively.
More USN News
List of 3 news stories.
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Spring sports season ends with podium finishes, trophies
The girls lacrosse team ended its season in overtime to become state runner-up. Tennis players Carter Kojetin '29 finished as a state quarterfinalist, Sophie Oliver '26 and Mary Kate Adler '28 finished as state semifinalists, and Veer Kodali '29 and Max Parker '29 finished as state champions. Meanwhile, eight runners competed at the state track and field meet in Knoxville, where Griffin Davidson '27, Caleb Freifeld '28, Drew Zwerner '28, and Jack Fruin '27, sprinted to first in the 4x800m relay and Jack also placed first in the 800m dash.Read More -
USN creates the Juliet Douglas Endowed Fund for Student Success
For the entire USN community: an invitation to give in gratitude, in celebration, and in honor of the woman who has given so much to our school. Make a gift at usn.org/giving to support students with needs beyond tuition and honor Interim Director Juliet Douglas.Read More -
Middle School Quiz Bowl competes at national championship
The Middle School Quiz Bowl finished off another successful season with a trip to the Middle School National Championship Tournament in Chicago. The team fought hard and ended the season as a top-100 program in the country, finishing 75th overall. Congratulations to the team on a great performance and to Lucas Lupu ’31, named an All Star for being the fifth-highest scorer nationwide.Read More
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2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
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University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.