School Duel
On BECON-TV, top high school
brains compete for fun & prestige
and Western High in Davie also advanced to the
televised tournament.
“All of our team are members of other competitive teams on campus. This competition brings
them all together to compete in a televised event
against, in some cases, friends from other schools.
school so they could prepare and have me answer
any questions they might have had. They review
topics on their own and relied on their previous
knowledge for the competition. I think they had a
great experience,” Farmer said.
by BETH SCHOTT
The School Duel is made up of four rounds
of questions, covering a variety of subCypress Bay High School took second place
ject areas stretching from school curin last year’s School Duel on BECON-TV,
riculum to current events. The show
but club advisor James Wurster is optimisbegins with the “Warning Shot” round,
tic this year’s squad could go even further on
featuring 10-point toss up questions
the televised academic quiz show. “We have
that may be answered by either team.
some experience, so we could do very well,”
The second round, the “Joust”, matches
Wurster said.
individual players head-to-head for
Cypress Bay High School is one of 20
a 10-point question. Round three is
teams selected to take part in the annual
“Rapid Fire”, where teams try to answer
School Duel, which provides a showcase for
up to ten questions in a 60 second time
some of the brightest kids in the tri-county
limit. “The Final Showdown” consists of
area. The idea behind the 19-series show is
a series of toss-up questions, worth 20
to shine the spotlight on the intellectual talpoints each.
ent in South Florida’s high schools, as well
“It is fun to play along yourself and
as serving as a positive educational tool.
see what you know, and it is also really
“Everyone hears about sports and athimpressive to see how sharp these kids
letes, but a lot of times the kids that are sucare,” said Guarasci.
cessful in school are never really heard from.
The 2013 high schools participating
This is a chance for them to show off and be
in the televised rounds include returning
rewarded for their hard work and success,”
champion Suncoast High and runner
said Jim Guarasci, the Executive Producer
up Cypress Bay. The schools representof the show, which is televised on BECONing Broward include College Academy,
TV – a nonprofit, noncommercial television
Coral Springs Charter, South Plantastation owned and operated by the School
tion, Deerfield Beach, Western, Cooper
Board of Broward County.
City, Monarch, West Broward, ChamIt isn’t easy for a team, usually four playThe high schools in our readership are well repreinade-Madonna, Taravella, Plantation
ers and an alternate, to be selected for School
sented in School Duel, with Cooper City, Western and
and Pines Charter. The Miami-Dade
Duel. Guarasci says close to 50 schools from
Cypress Bay all making it to the televised rounds
contingent is Westminster Christian,
the area took part in an online quiz several
Archimedean and Ransom Everglades.
months ago, with the top 20 finishers makLike in the other competitions that Western High
Spanish River, Park Vista, and Wellington are
ing it to the televised tournament. From there, the
participates in, this gives our students a platform
from Palm Beach County.
teams compete in a single elimination tournament
to share their knowledge and have fun along the
to determine South Florida’s School Duel chamSchool Duel airs every Thursday at 7:00
way,” said Missy Jones, Assistant Principal at
pion, which last year was Palm Beach County’s
p.m. on BECON-TV, which is available on
Suncoast High School. This year’s Championship
Western High School.
most cable & satellite systems. Repeat airmatch will air on June 6th.
Cooper City High School advisor, Juanita
ings take place on Saturdays at 10:00 a.m.
“It’s like a game show, with four different
Farmer says her team is an extremely motivated
and Sundays at 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
rounds, in which the schools players from each
group, that came to her asking if she would sponThe entire season will also be rebroadcast
school compete as a team,” said Guarasci.
sor a team.
during the summer and fall. For more, visit
www.schoolduel.tv.
The teams from Cooper City High School
“I provided them with computer access at
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‘DRW MAGAZINE’
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