In the light of recent posts that I view as negative to the University of Arkansas' Quizbowl Team. I think a calmer post is needed to settle some of these issues. First I'll give you a little information on our own Josh Hill, the Bucktown Tiger that you all are becoming more familiar with for both good and bad reasons. Josh has just ended his second active quizbowl year. I think he's cetainly one of the most improved quizbowl players on the circuit. He came in with a bit of talent (he was captain of a Brinkley high school's (a small town in East Arkasnas, ask Josh for the population figures), but has taken it upon himself to become a good player. He studies more and writes more questions than any player I've been around, and genuinely wants to become one of the best in the nation. These are all good things. He led Arkansas to the D2 ACF national championship (dubious as it may have been, he still won it) and another novice victory, as well as being Arkansas's number 2 or 3 scorer all year. He's certainly an up-and- comer in the quizbowl realm. But...(with extreme understatement) He's a tad difficult to control. He wants to win so desperately, even in practice, that when he doesn't win or get a certain question right (esp. tigers or geography) he shakes the walls of the building with obscenities and has been known to throw chairs, etc. His postings to the board are too frequent for my taste, but are a testament to his desire to win and be a well-known member of the quizbowl community. Unfortunately I think that his antics are overshadowing his play. More people are familiar with Dargan, the Granddaddy of Arkansas Quizbowl, so I'll only mention him for a bit. Dargan's one of the true gentlemen of the game. While prone to negging, he's a very strong player in each of the Big three competitions. He has also been quite successful in individual tournaments in the past, and I have no doubt that any bout between him and Jason Mueller (sorry to bring him back up) would end a strong Dargan victory (provided he stayed under double digits in negs). As for a little bit of news...Next year will be the first time in six years or so that a Wehrman will not be president of Arkansas quizbowl. That job has been split between the firebrand Josh Hill, and the gentlemanly Lynn Endicott. I will be staying on for another year, but in a reduced role, at least as far as the organization is concerned. Andy Wehrman Arkansas Quizbowl President (for a while)
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