Christ Wesleyan Undefeated in Bible Bowl Tournament
Aug. 3, 2009
Eighty-one quizzers from 15 churches (18 teams) and seven states gathered at Southern Wesleyan University July 8-11 for the 2009 National Wesleyan Bible Bowl Tournament. After three days and 33 rounds of team competition, Milton B from Christ Wesleyan in Milton, PA, (pictured l. to r., Aaron Ulmer, Nate Crawford, Kari Seibert, Becky Crawford, Rachel Broschart, and Coach Lesley Seibert) finished undefeated to capture first place. Brookings (SD) Wesleyan finished second, and Weedville (PA) Wesleyan was third.
In recent years, Milton finished first in 2006 and second in 2005, 2007, and 2008, while Brookings was first in 2008, second in 2004, and third in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Weedville moved into the top three for the first time.
Teams came from Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Virginia for the largest national tournament ever. Three churches entered two teams. "Our National Tournament has been an open invitational for three years now," said Jim Terwilliger, National Bible Bowl director, "and it is exciting to see the event begin to grow as teens and adults connect with one another and begin to build relationships that last throughout the year."
The quizzers competed for more than $52,000 in scholarships. Each member of the top eight teams will receive scholarships that can used at any Wesleyan college, ranging from $1,000 for first place team members to $100 for the eighth place team members.
Rounding out Division A, Bartlesville (OK) First Wesleyan captured fourth, Milton A was fifth, Cherryville (PA) Wesleyan was sixth, Cypress (OH) Wesleyan was seventh, and Mt. Zion (Thomasville, NC) was eighth.
Ten teams competed in the Division B championship round. North Rome (Ulster, PA) finished first, Penn Forest (Roanoke, VA) second, and Armburst (PA) Wesleyan third. Team members received scholarships of $250 for first place, $150 for second, and $100 for third.
Scholarships were also awarded for head-to-head individual toss-up and written competition over the book of Luke. The top 10 quizzers in toss-up competition were Joel Spangler, Cypress, $3,500; Kari Seibert, Milton B, $3,000; Matt Seibert, Milton A, $2,500; Kim Lewis, Weedville, $2,000; Marisa Hinderaker, Brookings A; $1,500; Joseph Miller, Cherryville A, $1,000; Nate Crawford, Milton B, $500; Andrea Phillips, Penn Forest, $500; Magdalena Skon, Brookings B, $250; and Daniella Petersen, Brookings A, $250.
In written competition, the top quizzer was Daniella Petersen, Brookings A, who answered 94 of 100 questions correctly to earn $3,500. She was followed by Kari Seibert, Milton B; Alex Loflin, Mt. Zion (Thomasville, NC); Matt Seibert, Milton A; Marisa Hinderaker, Brookings A; Kim Lewis, Weedville; Nate Crawford, Milton B; Peyton Weaver, Bartlesville; Becky Crawford, Milton B; and Hannah Harrison, Mt. Zion, (Thomasville, NC).
One parent commented, "I do appreciate the intentional emphasis put on how important God's Word is, the encouragement to the quizzers that it's not all about competition and winning but about God." Another parent said that WBB is an "excellent program that changes the lives of many youth."
Terwilliger adds, "While many teens walk away from the competition with scholarships for Wesleyan colleges, it is our hope and prayer that every quizzer will walk away with a greater knowledge of the Word of God, and that the knowledge will permeate every aspect of their lives.
Quiz teams around the United States are now gearing up to study next year's books, I & II Corinthians, to be ready for nationals at Houghton College in June 2010.
