The WHHS quiz team has had a highly competitive and successful season, winning numerous tournaments, including the Eastern Cincinnati Conference (ECC) district tournament. The team is now preparing to compete at nationals against quiz teams from across the country.
There is no single reason for this success; it stems from the expertise and guidance of the coaches and the determination and skill of the players. Jackson Riddle, ‘26, who is in his fifth year with the WHHS quiz team, credited the team’s growth to their academic foundation.
“This year we have been able to learn a lot more in our classes, which, in addition to our independent studies, really helps us in competition,” Riddle said.
Nikolai Fedorov, ‘26, is also in his fifth year with the quiz team and echoes this sentiment, emphasizing more focused practices.
”We have devoted more time studying categories that we were weak in, like literature and fine arts, and overall, I think that the team has improved significantly because of this,” Fedorov said.
One of the key factors in the team’s success has been the strong bonds between teammates and coaches, both on and off the stage.
“My favorite thing about quiz team has to be my teammates; I couldn’t ask for a more talented yet fun group than those guys,” Fedorov said. “When I’m on the playing field, there’s no pressure when I’m with them because they make quiz team very enjoyable.”
These relationships and experiences have created unforgettable memories for the players.
“My favorite memory is going to my first high school nationals last year and winning a Rising Star award, as well as being able to meet some really cool people,” Riddle said.
Another unforgettable memory was the team’s major comeback during the ECC tournament.
“There are so many memories I can choose from to be my favorite, but most recently it’s got [to] be the time we came back from a 13-point deficit to upset Little Miami in the ECC tournament. The look on their faces was priceless,” Fedorov said.
This season, the team received their long-awaited recognition for their outstanding accomplishments.
“[We] hosted our first ever senior night and got our new uniforms,” Fedorov said. “[This] made me feel proud of what this team has become; however, we’re still hungry for more.”
With nationals approaching in late May in Atlanta, GA, the team is more excited than ever.
“I’m really excited to compete at nationals; it’s always an honor to be able to play on that stage and having that level of competition is always a really good experience for our team,” Riddle said.
Fedorov agreed, adding that he hopes to “put Walnut Hills back on the national stage by winning some games.”
The team understands what it takes to perform under the pressure at one of the highest levels of the competition and plans to use their awareness to help them prepare for the competition.
“We’ve prepared like we always have, but we’re also going to play some harder questions in practice in order to prepare ourselves for the increase in difficulty that comes with competing at nationals,” Riddle said.
While trivia training is a key factor in the path towards success in the world of quiz teams, mental preparation is just as important.
“Even though I’m excited to be back, we have to keep in mind that it’s just another tournament and we need to be calm and composed,” Fedorov said.
Win or lose, the future of the WHHS quiz team remains bright.
“Just this past weekend, our middle schoolers were able to qualify for middle school nationals, which I’m very happy about, and I think it really speaks to the depth of talent we have at all age levels,” Riddle said.
Fedorov shared the same confidence in the younger players.
“I am very confident they can win it all. When they get up to the high school level, it’s going [to] be hard for teams to stop them,” Fedorov said.