High school students from across the country competed in a quiz bowl tournament on Sunday, April 7, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, Illinois.
The tournament was called the Individual Player National Championship Tournament. While quiz bowl is typically a team-based competition, the IPNCT is an individual competition. The tournament is intended for high schoolers but allows ambitious middle schoolers as well.
Kinkaid had two students on the podium. Ali Hamzeh, a junior, won the 2024 tournament with a score of 750 points, 30 more than the runner-up and 185 more than the third-place winner.
Cole Hartung, a senior, ended up placing seventh in the tournament after receiving 535 points.
Hartung said he was proud of the accomplishments both he and Hamzeh made.
“I’m incredibly proud to say that the team has accomplished quite a lot this year in both individual and team competitions. A special congratulations to Ali for being crowned ‘best individual player in the nation’ and am simultaneously incredibly sad to say that my time as Kinkaid’s benevolent quiz bowl czar is coming to an end,” he said. “Right now we’re looking ahead to nationals where we can hopefully contend for the title and bring a trophy home.”
The team boasts a combined record of 70-7 across all competitions, including six tournament victories and a lowest tournament finish of third.
The quiz bowl faculty sponsor, Upper School math teacher Dr. Richard Parr, said the team members have worked hard for their success.
“Cole and Ali have been tireless in their quest to be the best Quiz Bowl players they can be,” he said “I was thrilled to see their hard work and dedication rewarded with their performances at IPNCT.”
Hamzeh will have one more shot at a repeat next year.
“I hope more Falcons join the quiz bowl team to make the club grow,” Hamzeh said.
