ACE

The Academic Team trooped to Orange County High School on Dec. 4 to challenge

Western Albemarle, Powhatan, and Orange high schools. During the meet, competitors were

quizzed about everything from the names of countries and chemical formulas to the impacts of

pop culture and playthings. One question even probed about a certain character from the ever-
famous American Girl doll book series—a question that truly tested the depth and diversity of

the players’ knowledge. “All the girls were stumped. It was funny because one of the guys

actually got it,” said freshman Eva McGehee. Her fellow competitor Erin Blackburn agreed. “I

can’t believe it. None of us were prepared,” said Blackburn.

The group, whose focus is admittedly more intellectual than most of its winter sport

counterparts, enjoys post-game traditions as would any other enthusiastic sports team. The

academic crowd won one of its three matches and celebrated by “free-styling” during the trip

home. “Yeah, we rapped for a good 45 minutes on the bus ride back,” said senior Nikolai Mayo-
Pitts.

Mayo-Pitts and the rest of the team headed to Monticello High School a week later to

face Louisa, Orange, Western Albemarle, and Charlottesville. Out of four rounds, Fluvanna won

two, falling only to Charlottesville and Western Albemarle. ACE team coach Jimmy Small, on

the way to the meet, has a habit of standing in the front of the bus and giving his student-athletes

an all-encompassing lecture on everything from American history to American cinema. “He

tries to prepare us as much as possible for each competition,” said Mayo-Pitts. “He’s very smart.

And a big history buff.” So make time and come out to support the county’s quickest thinkers.

It’s a no-brainer.