By Ella Hopkins-Gianotti and Anwita Puttam – Staff Reporters

The senior team won the National Honor Society’s annual Brain Bowl at Jonathan Law High School. 

The Brain Bowl is a annual event that NHS hosts to raise awareness as well as money for brain cancer research. This year, NHS raised $1,100 and donated it to The Cure Starts Now in honor of Finley Maguire. 

“I think that the results were great,” senior NHS member Madde Baranowsky said. “We had many donations and many people actually showed up to the event.”

The NHS has been planning for for the Brain Bowl since the beginning of the school year. It is a long process that includes voting on the themes, creating the tests and questions, making promotional videos, and raising money.

There were four competing teams – each team included four people – and the teams were split up by their grades. Each team put up a fight on stage answering academic and pop culture trivia questions, but the seniors beat the faculty team to win the competition.

“I wish the juniors had like done better but I’m glad like at least like one of the other classes won especially the seniors since i’m going to be a senior next year so now we have like a reputation to uphold,” junior Haliey Stephan said.

Even though they had the least amount of donation points to start the event, the freshman team answered enough questions to advance to the final round against the seniors. 

“Despite the freshman getting robbed of the win, it was such a fun experience that I know every student and contestant enjoyed taking part in,” freshman Vice President Cora Aikenhead said. “The fast-paced environment, responsive audience, and random questions kept everyone on the edge of their seats, and I can’t wait for next year’s Brain Bowl.”

The other two teams had also put up a strong fight for their spot.

“I was a bit disappointed that my team didn’t go on, but I was happy to see the freshmen team almost beat the seniors,” sophomore Everett Alogna said. 

In the end, the seniors had to face the teacher team which included Technology teacher Mr. Barcello.

“It’s always easier to answer the questions when you’re in the seats and then it’s completely different, it seems like, when you get on stage, because it’s more stressful,” Barcello said.

History teacher Mr. Roumeles enjoyed his time as a member of the teacher team.

“It was just a good time overall because the competition was really strong,” Roumeles said.