Cloverleaf High School’s Academic Challenge Team A finished 10th in the nation out of a field of 96 teams in the 2018 Small
School National Championship Tournament held April 27-29 in Chicago, with
Cloverleaf Team B finishing close behind in 15th place.
It was the first time any Cloverleaf team had qualified for the playoff round in a national tournament – and with two squads competing at SSNCT this year, Cloverleaf accomplished the feat twice. The teams competed in the Traditional Public Schools division of the tournament, sponsored by National Academic Quiz Tournaments.
Cloverleaf Team A finished with an overall record of 9-5 (7-3 in the preliminary round and 2-2 in the double-elimination playoff round). The team was comprised of four seniors: Jacob Berchtold, Emily Gladden, Nate Powalie and Jackson Stuff.
Team B completed play with an overall record of 8-6 (6-4 in
the prelims and 2-2 in the playoffs). The team was comprised of freshman Joe
Charek, junior Joseph Massaro, freshman Brooks Powalie, junior Grace Schmitt,
and freshman Abby Washinger.
"I am beyond proud of both of our teams that competed at SSNCT this year," said the team's coach, Cameron Flint, who teaches social studies at Cloverleaf High School. "Our group of seniors on the 'A' Team are collectively the best team Cloverleaf has ever had. They have more wins and more league titles than any team in school history. To place 10th in the nation is an amazing achievement. The future also looks strong as our younger 'B' team placed 15th in the nation. This just shows what Cloverleaf students are capable of."
Brooks Powalie was the highest-scoring freshman in the
entire tournament and the 19th-leading scorer overall among the 530
students who participated, earning a Rising Star Award. Rounding out the
scoring ranks for Cloverleaf were: Stuff (32nd), Gladden (79th),
Nate Powalie (118th), Massaro (130th), Schmitt (240th),
Berchtold (290th), Washinger (305th) and Charek (383rd).
Additional Cloverleaf Academic
Challenge team accomplishments in the 2017-18 season include: Medina County
League Champions, Portage Trail Conference JV Regular Season Champions, and
Summit County Winter League Champions.
Cloverleaf competes next at NAQT’s 20th-annual
High School National Championship Tournament in Atlanta May 25-27. The 2018
tournament features more than 350 schools of all sizes from the United States
and other countries.
Cloverleaf Team A (top photo, from left): Jacob Berchtold, Nate Powalie, Emily Gladden and Jackson Stuff.
Cloverleaf Team B (bottom photo, from left): Brooks Powalie, Joseph Massaro, Grace Schmitt, Joe Charek and Abby Washinger.