While a high capacity thought reservoir is helpful, storing tons of facts and figures is not required to be competitive in Knowledge Bowl, said senior Jack Schloesser.
Schloesser has been leading the Clipper senior team this year. In his most recent meet, at Hosanna Church in Mankato, he and the rest of the Clippers’ top foursome took home a respectable 6th place among 31 other teams from around the area.
“Knowledge Bowl competitors do not necessarily need to know a lot," Schloesser said. “They just need certain skills. Understanding the question is key to figuring out the answer. Being able to think quickly is also important because you need to remember certain facts and determine the answer within the time limit. Sometimes there are complicated math questions that you are only given 15 seconds to solve once you buzz in. It can be difficult to fully process a question in that time, let alone solve it.”
But at the end of the day, to be competitive in Knowledge Bowl, you have to believe in yourself, he said.
“Many qualities are important in their own way, but confidence is key to getting an answer correct. There have been many times when I knew the answer but hesitated and ended up not getting the point. You have to go with your gut and buzz when you think you know the answer.”
Schloesser has participated in Knowledge Bowl since he was a 7th grader.
“Jack has always brought enthusiasm, a great team spirit and loads of intelligence to make him one of my most outstanding Knowledge Bowl students,” said CHS Knowledge Bowl coach Joanne Starke. “He is smart as a whip, cheerful, respectful and appreciated by his fellow teammates.”
Schloesser appreciates his teammates as well.
“I enjoy the satisfaction of getting a question right and the feeling that comes with it. Working together with my team to correctly come up with an answer is also a great method of team building because if one of us is wrong, we are all wrong, and vice versa. I enjoy being with friends and joking around in between questions. There is often a lot of laughter that comes from my group. It can be difficult when you are in a room with tough competitors and you do not get many opportunities to answer questions. It can also bring down your level of confidence and make morale low. But you just have to keep an open mind and stay confident to catch up.”
Schloesser has maintained a broad knowledge base, but his deep understanding is rooted in world geography and maps. As a start, he can name all the countries in the world and their capitals.
“Ever since my 8th-grade geography class, I have always enjoyed taking quizzes about maps and countries. It is just something I find very interesting, and I also find it very satisfying to name all the answers. Since I have learned about all countries, this interest has spilled over into history and other subjects. I intend to keep up with this and learn as much as I can.”
Schloesser didn't design his learning path to be successful in Knowledge Bowl, but he has an elevated curiosity level and a good head for facts.
“I have always absorbed information around me, and sometimes I feel that my brain is only good for remembering that type of information. I have always been good at retaining a lot of information not usually taught in school. I have always sought out information, especially with YouTube videos about certain historical events or how things in life work. I have always just been curious for more information and ended up finding out many things that are typically asked as questions in Knowledge Bowl.”
Active in several other extra-curricular activities at CHS as well, Schloesser has been making the most of his senior year.
He started his musical career as a sixth grader and now plays trombone in the Concert Band, Jazz Band, Holiday Jazz and Pep Band. This year he joined FFA and is going to state for soils. He has been on the yearbook staff since he was a freshman and is a lead editor this year. He is in his second year serving on the Student Council and is the set engineer for the Drama Club, which he joined as a junior.
“I enjoy being involved in student activities because it allows for opportunities not otherwise accessible,” he said.
Outside the classroom and Knowledge Bowl meets, Schloesser enjoys spending time with friends.
“Sometimes we will just drive around and talk or maybe go to a couple stores in Mankato. Sometimes we even get a large group together and play Dungeons and Dragons. It is fun to play and also encourages us to work together and find solutions to problems presented in the game.”
After graduation, Schloesser plans to earn a bachelor's degree in computer science with an emphasis in cybersecurity from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse.
“I am picking this career path because it is a stable job industry with good benefits and pay.”
But he wants to continue developing an artistic side as well.
“I love writing and want to further my writing skills, so I also plan to earn a minor in creative writing . I hope to continue writing and hopefully write a full novel in the future. I have already begun writing, and I hope to someday get published.”
In a Knowledge Bowl meet, team members first take a quiz to decide seeding. From there, they are pitted against two other teams and advance to two more rounds based on how they compete.
Teamed with Schloesser at the last meet were fellow seniors Jacob Rohlfing, Amelia Tauer and Emily Holden. Competing with him when they took 7th place at Loyola Fitzgerald in the season opener were Rohlfing, Tanyon Hoheisel and Samantha Wonda, both also seniors.
Upcoming meets for the Senior Knowledge Bowl teams are at Fitzgerald on February 21 and again on March 2, the sub-regional meet at St. Clair on March 8 and then, if they qualify in St. Clair, back at Fitzgerald on March 16.