The Pilot News - Rotary team ‘roots’ the competition

By Maggie Nixon Managing Editor
PLYMOUTH — The Friends of the Library took a year off from the quiz bowl in 2007, but the 2008 bowl had a full slate of teams prepared to be questioned.
In the final night of the contest, moving in to the semi-final round was the Gibson Risk Takers, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center’s Fantastic Four, Rotary Rooters and St. Michael’s Rectory.
It was a tight match between the teams in each game, but SJRMC’s Fantastic Four prevailed to the final game to see the Rotary Rooters.

The teams were neck and neck, with the Rotary team up just one question, until a question about Marshall County Campgrounds was asked.
It looked as if the Fantastic Four was going to be able to catch up and possibly move ahead in points when the Rotary team missed the answer.
However, the entire team effort of the Rooters prevailed, earning them the title of 2008 Quiz Bowl Champs.
“We lost to the better team,” said Fantastic Four team captain Sam VanLandingham. “They did a great job.”
Melissa Christiansen, captain for the Roaty Club team, said she was proud of her entire team.
“It was a total team effort,” she said. “We all knew something; we all contributed.”
The Rotary team will acquire a plaque when the 2006 team returns it to the library, said Friends of Library volunteer Lisa Miller.
For their second place effort, the Fantastic Four was awarded the Lucky Duck, customary for the runner-up trophy. The duck bears a sign that reads: “I’d rather be lucky than smart.”
Correction: In Tuesday’s Pilot News, the “Quiz Bowl Champs ‘08 photo incorrectly identified Doug Gehrke as Paul Gehrke. We apologize for the error.