Not content with being excellent in their own right, the John Carroll Academic Team took on a host of local rivals at this weekend's Bel Air Invitational scholastic tournament and walked out champions! Their inimitable coach and mentor, Mr. Bob Schick, reports:
John Carroll’s Academic Team (captains Justin Hawkins and Kathy Deaver, with freshman Drew Forthman) took part in the Bel Air Invitational on Saturday, November 15. 24 teams entered, including powerhouses like Howard, Hammond, Catonsville, and Dulaney, plus local rivals C. Milton Wright, Bel Air, and Fallston.
And John Carroll won the whole thing!
All 24 teams played five rounds to determine what eight teams would make the playoffs. We lost the very first round 150-110 to Dulaney’s B team, which made every game thereafter a must-win game. John Carroll won the next three games, then faced previously undefeated Bel Air A in the fifth game, needing a victory to advance. In a gutsy performance, JC won 200-150.
In the playoffs, the first game was a rematch against Dulaney B, who had won all five of their games, but this time we responded with a 230-90 victory. In the semifinals we faced previously undefeated C. Milton Wright A, and won 230-90. This placed us in the Finals, where we were up against Dulaney’s A team, who were also previously undefeated in seven games. J-Hawk, Kathryn the Great, and Drew came out on top 240-90. This was a remarkably strong performance from the whole team. It is amazing how smart our kids are, but it was truly impressive how they stayed cool under pressure and bounced back from that first loss.
Every JC teacher who has ever taught and challenged these kids should share in this victory. They are a hard-working group, and this was an extraordinary victory.