Arlington High School aces Hi-Q test

MUKILTEO -- They practiced after school since May, drilling each other on obscurities in American history and in cellular functions.

They highlighted copies of "The Magic Barrel" by Bernard Malamud, scoured Newsweek, and drew elaborate diagrams of relationships between characters in William Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor."

On Tuesday, before a crowd of boisterous classmates, these self-proclaimed nerds shined.

Buzzers in hand, books stashed away, students from Arlington, Stanwood and Mukilteo's Kamiak High School sparred in this year's Hi-Q finals.

Arlington came from behind by acing several literature questions to win with 41 points. Kamiak finished second with 36 and Stanwood came in third with 33.

"It's exciting," said Keith Bayer, proudly thrusting Arlington's waist-high trophy into the air. "The giddiness is finally going away. I might settle down before I get back to school."

Sponsored by Everett Community College, Hi-Q is a knowledge competition that is more focused than the traditional quiz bowl.

In May, the college released a lengthy study list including the names of texts Hi-Q questions were based on. The material varied from "Sports Illustrated 2007 Almanac" to "Magruder's American Government."

The college contracts with a secret source who composes the questions. The only person who knows the question writer's identity is Cirrus Ervin, who coordinates the competition and refuses to divulge any information about the question writer.

Hi-Q gives brainy kids a chance to compete in front of their peers and bring fame and glory to their schools, just as athletic teams do, she said.

"I sit up there and I listen to the questions every match and I might be able to answer one if I'm lucky -- and these teams are answering every one," she said. "They're showing how cool it is to be smart."

During the match fans and parents watched dumbfounded, amazed at how much the teams knew.

In the second row sat Marie Nowlin,her hands pressed together as in nervous prayer and her eyes never straying far from her daughter, Katie, part of the Arlington team.

"I have to put gum in my mouth so I don't scream," Nowlin said, chewing, as the Eagles handled everything that was thrown at them.

"Oh my God! That's so nerve-wracking," Katie said, showing her mom her shaking hand during a break.

Nowlin knew how to help. She shoved her pack of Trident White at Katie, urging her to take some.

Arlington, Stanwood and Kamiak made it to Tuesday's finals by winning in Hi-Q matches since January. Twenty teams from Snohomish and Island counties fought for the title.

Despite their Hi-Q's team stellar record, most other Stanwood students don't even know the team exists, said member Rebecca Raible, a sophomore. Studying may not be considered the coolest after-school activity, but like most Hi-Q competitors, Raible said she doesn't mind the stereotype that comes with being on the Hi-Q team.

"I'm sure some people think a lot of us are just nerdy," she said. "It's nice being able to show off your brain a little bit."

Reporter Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292 or kmanry@heraldnet.com.