First-time competitor Marian Catholic wins Schuylkill County Academic Competition

Mar. 20—SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — A team of Marian Catholic scholars defeated rival Nativity BVM to win the 31st Schuylkill County Academic Competition on Monday at the Penn State Schuylkill campus.

North Schuylkill defeated Blue Mountain, 100 -85, to finish third among 12 teams from high schools across the county.

As champion, Marian will represent Schuylkill County in the Pennsylvania Academic Competition on April 19 in Harrisburg.

Katie Kelly, Intermediate Unit 29 STEM supervisor, said it was the first time two Catholic schools competed for the championship.

The competition had been scheduled for March 13 but was postponed due to inclement weather.

Tevin Walsh, Marian's captain, said it was the first year the school had fielded a team in the college bowl-style competition.

Marian bounced back after a disappointing showing in the Schuylkill Academic League, an unrelated competition that precedes the championships, with Blue Mountain first and Schuylkill Haven Area second.

"It was our first year, and we were the dark horse," said a jubilant Alyssa Kuba, noting that Marian took preparing for the competition seriously.

Janet Whalen, Marian's coach, attributed the win to strengthening the team in the areas of math, science, literature and history.

Representing Marian in the finals were: Addison Pan, Tevin Walsh, Alyssa Kuba and Alexander Cornmesser. Angela Pan replaced her brother, Addison, in the second round of the finals.

Nativity's scholars included Cole Andrefski, Melissa Malarkey, Ian Andrefski and Spencer Mathers. In the second round, Stanley Gorski, Matthew Wojciechowsky and Lolla Rymarkiewicz joined Ian Andrefski.

Marian scored 70 to Nativity's 55 to win the championship.

In the championship rounds, the scholars on both teams were stumped by questions like:

Who was the woman who Dr. Van Helsing urges to wear a wreath of garlic flowers in the novel "Dracula?" Answer: Lucy Westenra.

What is the name of the Jane Austen novel in which Wickham's engagement to Lydia causes Elizabeth to reassess her relationship with Mr. Darcy? Answer: "Pride and Prejudice."

And, which Southern city did the Union Army fail to take after exploding a massive device in the Battle of the Crater during the Civil War? Answer: Petersburg, Virginia.

An historical footnote that was not mentioned: That was the battle where Schuylkill County miners in the 48th Pennsylvania Regiment dug a tunnel under Confederate Army lines.

Marian and Nativity both had better luck on questions involving the Hebrew dialect, Yiddish, and the name of the U.S. president who was impeached in the Monica Lewinsky affair — Bill Clinton.

The competition was fierce in the preliminary rounds leading up to the championship. There was a three-way tie involving the selection of two other finalists that would go up against Marian and Nativity.

North Schuylkill, Blue Mountain and Schuylkill Haven Area tied at 165 points each. In a separate runoff, Schuylkill Haven Area was eliminated.

Also participating in the competition were teams from Gillingham Charter School, Minersville Area, Pine Grove Area, Pottsville Area, Shenandoah Valley, Tamaqua Area and Tri-Valley.

Pottsville took the championship in 2022. Blue Mountain has been champion in five of the last 10 years.

Readers of questions included teachers Chuck Grabusky, Samantha Bullock and Richard Tomko.

Contact the writer: rdevlin@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6007