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Third Graders Win the Diocesan Religion Scholars Bowl

Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School (OLV) hosted the 36th annual Diocesan Religion Scholars Bowl on Wednesday, March 9, in the Social Hall. Ten Catholic schools in the diocese participated this year. From Birmingham, St. Francis Xavier, Our Lady of Sorrows, St. Rose Academy, Prince of Peace and Our Lady of the Valley participated. Also participating were St. Ann in Decatur, Holy Family in Huntsville, Holy Spirit in Huntsville, St. John the Baptist in Madison, and Sacred Heart in Cullman.

Teams were composed of one student from each of the participating schools from third through eighth grade.

The competition consisted of a 25-point matching test, which was taken in cooperative groups. There were three oral rounds of questions throughout the remainder of the day. Ribbons were awarded to the top four teams.

In first place with 155 points was the third-grade team which included: Ricardo Grimaldo, Pascual Pedro, Margaret Andra, Lila Interian, Savannah Mai, Ellie Moore, Evan Magruder, Long Lam, Emily Elson, Rebecca Estep, and Laura Beth Hall.

In second place there was a two-way tie. The fourth- and eighth-grades each scored 152 points. The fourth-grade participants included Madelyn Edwards, Charlotte Rush, Noah Southerland, Rowin Blume, Leah Ritcher, Kade Michael Gentry, Pierce Plaisance, Joshua Davis, Arianna Lumley, Olivia Letcher, and Alexa DeSantis. The eighth-grade participants were Luke Kelly, Alan Cruz, Mary Addison Koshut, Sage Norwood, Emily St. Peter, Maggie Baldwin, Luke Daley, Walter Hungerpiller, Michael Grinder, Claire Ceasar, and Emma Watkins.

Third place saw yet another two-way tie! The fifth- and seventh-grades each scored 151 points. The fifth-grade participants included Elinor Chan, Abigail Matyka, Silas Krische, Audrey Bawcom, Fritz Detwiler, Reid Pate, Sophia McDade, Aaron Carter, Brendan Rudemiller, Blake Anderson, and Juliana Rohling. The seventh-grade participants were Caleb Brown, Sean Daly, Emily Nobbley, Josie Benson, Joseph Benedict Anders, Xavier Escorpizo, Tony Stott, Ellie Tynes, Brandan Guzman, Jonathan Rohling, and Kieran Ford.

In fourth place with 149 points was the sixth-grade team which included Parker Brant, Brianna Wilkinson, Alan Hernandez, Maria McInnish, Julianna Bailey, Malina Basave de Jesus, Ellie Mauter, Mimi McGovern, Ella Davis, Noelle Suellentrop, and Liam Gill.

The moderators for the day’s event were Peggy DeBlanc-Vogt and Daniel McCormick. Father Thomas Kelly, pastor of Our Lady of the Valley Church, began the day with a prayer. Andy Rothery, principal of the school, welcomed all the teams, teachers, and parents. Many others made the day possible, including April Garzarek, Kersti O’Farrell, Kelly Kindle, Kristin Driggers, Mary Beth Hall, Erica Clayton, Deborah Bruno, Elizabeth Folsom, Pamela Rohling, and the PTO.