TRUMBULL COUNTY Schoolchildren gear up for Prep Bowl contest

Pupils in the county prepare all year for the much-anticipated competition.
By AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The county's super bowl of academics is gearing up for another year, pitting teams of pupils from all grade levels against one another.
The countywide Prep Bowl, sponsored by Trumbull County Educational Service Center, requires pupils to answer questions from all areas of study.
Last year, 20 school districts participated at three levels -- elementary (grades 5 and 6); junior high (grades 7 and 8); and high school (grades 9-12).
Pupils play as a team, answering timed questions under a buzzer. Teams are eliminated in rounds.
Scheduled dates: Dates for the competition, taking place from 4 to 8 p.m. at Trumbull Career & amp; Technical Center off Mahoning Avenue in Champion, are as follows: Elementary, Jan. 23, 24, 28 and 29; junior high, Jan. 31 and Feb. 4 and 5; and high school, Feb. 11, 12 and 14.
Last year's winners were Neal Middle School of the Mathews District, W.S. Guy Middle School of Liberty and Lordstown High School.
Carlotta Raymond Sheets, spokeswoman for TCESC, said, "Students prepare and they're coached and they practice just like any academic competition."
Subject matter: The contest incorporates core subjects such as math, science, social studies and English, including literature, she said.
Vicki Giovangnoli, TCESC's assistant superintendent, said the contest has been going on for at least 10 years.
She calls it the "academic Super Bowl of Trumbull County" because "everyone takes it very, very seriously."
Each school district has a Prep Bowl coach who works with teams all year to prepare for the challenge.
Parents, teachers, administrators and pupils get involved in the much-anticipated competition, Giovangnoli said.