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JM team wins VHSL Scholastic Bowl state title

March 12, 2009 2:06 am

WHEN James Monroe High School world history teacher Bob Blackburn started working with academic quiz teams some 32 years ago, the after-school coaching job was a lot different.

"We would start in September, practice for a few weeks, go to one or two 'Battle of the Brains' tapings in Richmond and be done for the year," said the quiz team veteran who has worked with students in Henrico, North Stafford and, for the past 21 years, at JM.

This year, Blackburn's 17-member JM squad started tryouts in September.

They practiced and competed through the district, regional and state finals of the VHSL Scholastic Bowl, taking top honors recently at William & Mary as state AA champs.

But that isn't all for Blackburn's students, who cram on their own to master as many details and facts as they can in math, science, literature and history.

The JM team is still alive in the "Battle of the Brains" TV quiz show on Richmond's WTVR. They compete against local high schools such as Massaponax and Colonial Forge, both still in the running, as well as schools from other parts of the state.

And if that isn't enough, the JM squad will continue to practice and prepare through the spring, getting ready to take on 50 other schools in a national tournament at George Mason University on Memorial Day.

"We're ranked somewhere in the 30s right now nationally," Blackburn said. "We'd love to do well at the tournament and break into the Top 10."

It would be a fitting way to step away from coaching, which is what Blackburn will do at the end of this year, turning over the program to Cathy Brown, who teaches science at JM.

"I've loved doing this, especially with this year's team, which has been the hardest-working I've ever had," said Blackburn, whose 2005 team won a state Scholastic Bowl championship.

But he said the extension of various competitions across the whole school year has taken a toll, as have Saturday mornings when he and team members roll out at 4:30 to head to tournaments.

"It's time to spend a few more of those days at home," said Blackburn, who said Brown's experience with the team and a good number of younger participants leave the program in good shape.

Brown inherits a program that's valued by students and faculty alike, and also will get the 9,000 practice questions Blackburn has accumulated over the years.

Blackburn couldn't say enough about how hard the starters on this year's team--Matt Cameron, Chuhern Hwang, Wo Chan and Dylan Vasey--and others have worked.

"Our captain, Chuhern Hwang, even called and organized special practices over the holidays at his home," Blackburn said. "And all the members of the team spent amazing amounts of time poring over books and other materials to prepare."

Blackburn said he and others have been amazed at some of the questions the team has answered.

"Sometimes one of them will answer a question and I'll think to myself--'How in the world did he know that? Where did that come from?'"

Blackburn said that it's been gratifying for the faculty at James Monroe and other schools to see students recognized for academic prowess.

"We love to support our students in all sports," said Blackburn, "but there's something special about seeing students achieve with what they learned in the classroom. Teachers feel like they have a hand in every victory."

Rob Hedelt: 540/374-5415
Email: rhedelt@freelancestar.com