Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

SAINT JOHN - This weekend, for the fourth consecutive year, Kennebecasis Valley High School will represent New Brunswick in the national Reach for the Top competition.

Enlarge Photo

Peter Walsh/Telegraph-Journal

Kennebecasis Valley High School Crusaders head for Edmonton this afternoon and the national Reach for the Top competition this weekend. Members of the KVHS team are above, front row, left to right, Stephen Spence and teacher/coach Jason Thorne. Back row, left to right, Mike Forestell, Nick Manuel, Will Koncovy and Kale O’Neill.

The team leaves late this afternoon.

On Tuesday afternoon, the five-member squad, made up entirely of young men, gathered to practise for the round-robin event, which could include thousands of questions that are sent by the national association as a training exercise. Each year, registered teams receive 900 new questions.

These students are far from one-trick ponies, with interests ranging from music to sports; their versatility is a big part of what makes them champions.

Categories run the gamut, including history, geography, movies, pop music, sports, science, math, even Canadian wheat and German cinema.

Kale O'Neill, who plays guitar and, this year, had the lead role in the school's musical Children of Eden, is an avid movie fan and the panel's pop-culture guru.

"Most of the science stuff is acquired through the classes you take at school," he said.

For his classical music knowledge, "I just kind of hit the books."

It's not too hard to know who's best suited to answer specific questions, says Nick Manuel.

"We just know, by now, who knows what," he said.

"You don't even have to talk most of the time," said Manuel, who plays guitar, collects vinyl records from the 1960s and '70s, and is the go-to guy for answers on geography and politics.

Will Koncovy's expertise lies in literature, mythology, sciences and math, but he is also into soccer and is working away at becoming a clown, having purchased a unicycle and juggling equipment.

Stephen Spence is the one his colleagues count on to answer questions about international affairs and has a penchant for patriotism.

"I have about 200 Canada flags in my room and I have flags from every province hanging from my ceiling," he said.

Mike Forestell, who likes to ski and play saxophone, is the king of "obscure random knowledge," says O'Neill.

"I can't believe what he can answer."

The Crusaders have won 22 consecutive provincial events since 2004 and have an undefeated streak this season of 47 matches.

The team and teacher/coach Jason Thorne return to the province next Tuesday.