Sophomores Olivia W. and Avery H. Make a Formidable Team in “Quarantamen”
By Julia C. ’21, Classics Club Head
This past week, Olivia W. and Avery H. from the Class of 2023 competed in “Quarantamen,” an online Classics quiz bowl competition. Quarantamen is a portmanteau of “Quarantine” and “Certamen” — Certamen, meaning “competition” in Latin, is the official name for quiz bowl competitions that the Junior Classics League hosts across the country. Competitors are quizzed on the Latin language, Roman history, and mythology. During the pandemic, these competitions were moved to virtual settings. Emily Ye, a freshman at Brown University, organized this year’s “Quarantamen,” taking inspiration from the official quiz bowl and hosting it over the online platform Discord.
This past week, Olivia W. and Avery H. from the Class of 2023 competed in “Quarantamen,” an online Classics quiz bowl competition. Quarantamen is a portmanteau of “Quarantine” and “Certamen” — Certamen, meaning “competition” in Latin, is the official name for quiz bowl competitions that the Junior Classics League hosts across the country. Competitors are quizzed on the Latin language, Roman history, and mythology. During the pandemic, these competitions were moved to virtual settings. Emily Ye, a freshman at Brown University, organized this year’s “Quarantamen,” taking inspiration from the official quiz bowl and hosting it over the online platform Discord.
Team Foxcroft competed at the intermediate level against other high schools in Pennsylvania, Northern Virginia, and New York City. I had the pleasure of coaching Olivia and Avery as they prepared for the three rounds of competition that took place from December 1-5. Over three rounds, Team Foxcroft gained 195 points, placing them 7th out of the 14 schools at the intermediate level. Although only the top three teams advanced to finals, Team Foxcroft’s results were extremely impressive — this was both Avery and Olivia’s first time experiencing Certamen, yet they quickly found their stride among more seasoned opponents, some of whom competed at the National Yale Certamen in previous years.
In a tough third round, Team Foxcroft remained scoreless in the first quarter — however, they had an amazing comeback, winning six tossup questions and three bonus questions, placing them second in the Round 3 pittings and advancing the team’s position on the overall leaderboard. Their teamwork helped them figure out answers to trick questions, and their speed when answering tossups made them a formidable team of two! Olivia reflects, “Certamen was a really enriching experience. Not only did it give me an opportunity to represent my school, but also it gave me an insight into the Classics community. The best part of my experience with Certamen was the Semifinals. The announcer would stop after each tossup and bonus and explain the answer to everyone, which took away some of the pressure and turned it into a more educational experience!! Thank you to Julia for organizing everything! I hope to participate again next year!”
I am very proud of Team Foxcroft and hope that the Classics Club will continue to organize a Certamen team in the coming years! I founded Foxcroft’s Classics Club in my junior year to share my passion for the subject and engage the community in all things Classics related. Throughout the year, the Club organizes trivia events for all levels to make it accessible for all, in addition to Classics-themed movie nights and Morning Meeting presentations about ancient culture. Adding an annual Certamen would be a great way for invested Latin students to channel their competitive spirit and gain valuable teamwork experience.
Once again, congratulations to Olivia and Avery!
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In a tough third round, Team Foxcroft remained scoreless in the first quarter — however, they had an amazing comeback, winning six tossup questions and three bonus questions, placing them second in the Round 3 pittings and advancing the team’s position on the overall leaderboard. Their teamwork helped them figure out answers to trick questions, and their speed when answering tossups made them a formidable team of two! Olivia reflects, “Certamen was a really enriching experience. Not only did it give me an opportunity to represent my school, but also it gave me an insight into the Classics community. The best part of my experience with Certamen was the Semifinals. The announcer would stop after each tossup and bonus and explain the answer to everyone, which took away some of the pressure and turned it into a more educational experience!! Thank you to Julia for organizing everything! I hope to participate again next year!”
I am very proud of Team Foxcroft and hope that the Classics Club will continue to organize a Certamen team in the coming years! I founded Foxcroft’s Classics Club in my junior year to share my passion for the subject and engage the community in all things Classics related. Throughout the year, the Club organizes trivia events for all levels to make it accessible for all, in addition to Classics-themed movie nights and Morning Meeting presentations about ancient culture. Adding an annual Certamen would be a great way for invested Latin students to channel their competitive spirit and gain valuable teamwork experience.
Once again, congratulations to Olivia and Avery!
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An all-girls boarding and day school in Northern Virginia, Foxcroft prepares young women in grades 9-12 for success in college and in life. Our outstanding academic program offers challenging courses, including Advanced Placement classes and an innovative STEM program. Our premiere equestrian program is nationally recognized, and our athletic teams have won conference and state championships. Experience the best in girls' boarding schools: visit Foxcroft.
