DARRINGTON While the Darrington High School Hi-Q team didnt make it to this years semifinals, they still got their moment in the spotlight with a fun competition of their own.
The day before the March 15 semifinals, Darringtons Hi-Q team headed off to the Everett studio of KRKO 1380 AM, to go head-to-head against the staff and producers of the stations afternoon drive sports team.
We listen to them because they broadcast the Hi-Q matches, said Darrington Hi-Q faculty advisor Linne Haywood, who works with fellow faculty coordinator David Heaton-Bush in coaching students Jesse Baker, Ben McCaulley, Maggie Wicken, Kristinia Cabe, Ryan Cave, Derrick Green, Skye Schillhammer, Nick Olsen, Paden Newberry, Jordan Corley, Evan Powell and Kimi Woodward. So we heard them talking about the matches.
I wondered if the college grads at our radio station could take on a high school team, said The Fish Jeff Aaron, who hosts the afternoon drive. I had a feeling we were going to be hearing I dont know from a lot of the KRKO guys.
David and I agreed that we had to get in on this, Haywood said. So we sent them a trash-talking e-mail, saying that we were their team.
The Darrington students faced off against graduates of University of Washington, Western Washington University and Everett Community College. Haywood explained that, because the show is sports-centric, many of the questions for the broadcast were weighted in favor of sports and current events, although categories such as chemistry, geography and math did still make appearances during the contest.
Neither Haywood nor her students were willing to spoil audiences on the outcome of the smackdown, which airs on KRKO 1380 AM, March 19, from 3-6 p.m., but students Baker and McCaulley might have already tipped their hand, regarding who smacked down whom.
I dont want to say it was easier, but it was easier than a regular Hi-Q competition, Baker said. The questions were more generalized and it was definitely more relaxed. Hi-Q is a good program that expands students fields of expertise.
It was way laid back, McCaulley said. You normally see people studying even as they come into it, so it wasnt that hard. Hi-Q is an exciting experience. It combines all sorts of areas of learning that you might not get to study as much in school.