Quiz Bowl Team Wins National Title

Four students in the Class of 2030 made history in Chicago this spring, claiming the national Quiz Bowl championship and bringing home the first Middle School national title in School history. Nathan Aurora, Kamran Nawaz, Ritam Setu, and Roger Wang competed against a field of 192 teams to reach the top, capping a season defined by relentless preparation, sharp teamwork, and a genuine love of learning. 

The road to the championship began long before the boys boarded their flight to Chicago. Under the guidance of Greg Crook, Middle School Quiz Bowl advisor and Thomas S. Adams Master Teaching Chair, the team committed to the process from the first day of the school year. “They enjoyed the hard work and never wavered in trying to improve,” Crook said. “Throughout the regular season, the boys embraced the process, seeing each match as a stepping stone to their most important goal: being prepared for Chicago.”

Each player brought his own preparation habits to the team. Kamran turned to QBReader, Wikipedia, and Anki flashcards to sharpen his recall. Nathan logged hours on QBReader and Protobowl. Roger regularly reviewed clues and categories. Ritam emphasized something that sounds simple but proved essential: “Read and get good sleep before tournaments, which I can’t stress enough.”

What set the team apart, though, was how well the four boys worked together. “One of the biggest reasons we won nationals was because we divided out roles on the team pretty well, and used this divide-and-conquer strategy to the fullest,” Ritam said. “We worked cohesively and effectively.” Nathan put it plainly: “The most important part of being on a team is operating as a unit, not as four individual players.” Crook singled out Kamran for the leadership he provided throughout the season. “Kamran provided incredible leadership, listening to his teammates and striving to help Ritam, Roger, and Nathan achieve their best,” he said. 

Beyond the strategy and preparation, what keeps each of these boys coming back to Quiz Bowl is something harder to teach. For Kamran, it is “the thrill of buzzing with a correct answer, especially against a strong team.” Roger loves the way competition opens new doors of curiosity. “Quiz Bowl gives you an interesting motivation to go study more when you hear an unusual cool fact about something,” he said. Nathan, a self-described lifelong collector of random knowledge, sees the activity as a chance to put that knowledge to work. “I have been known as a nerd who knows too many random facts for a long time, and Quiz Bowl is a way to use that knowledge to represent my school competitively.” For Ritam, few moments rival the satisfaction of beating everyone else to the buzzer on a first-line clue. “It feels good because you know that you can compete at a high level once you start powering.”

When the final match ended and the result was official, the weight of the moment settled in quickly. “It’s pretty surreal,” Kamran said. “It’s also the first middle school national tournament St. Mark’s has ever won, which makes it especially meaningful.” Ritam framed the scale of the achievement directly: “To know that you just beat a field of 192 extremely competitive teams and set school records, that is an incredible feeling.” Even so, the boys were quick to deflect individual credit. “I don't feel this victory as a personal accomplishment,” Nathan said. “I think it is an equal victory for the four of us.” Roger, meanwhile, was already looking forward. “I saw a lot of people better than me in my category,” he said. “I will continue to improve over the summer.”

For Crook, the championship reflects something larger than any single team or tournament. “The competition in North Texas Quiz Bowl is fierce, which benefits all the teams, including St. Mark’s,” he said. “The boys recognize that this regular season is an important part of their success, for the teams they compete against enable them to improve their skills, develop teamwork, and learn under pressure.” He also credited younger Marksmen, fellow St. Mark’s teams, and Upper School mentors whose support shaped the group throughout the year. Together, they helped build a championship culture, and a permanent place in School history.