What happens when teamwork, black history, and competition come together? The African American History Challenge Team is more than just a competition or extracurricular, it’s an opportunity for students to come together, learn, and celebrate Black history in a fun, competitive environment. Junior Torrance Stovall, a key member of the team, shared his experience and insights into how the team ran this season and his hopes for next year.
Stovall first joined the team as a way to get more involved at Westside. He wanted to participate in something he understood and felt comfortable with.
“When I first got here I was trying to get more involved, and the team was something that just started kind of familiar to me,” Stovall said. “So I figured I’d do it, plus a lot of my friends that I had at the time were in it.”
Stovall explained how initially the team had 11 members, but by the end of the season it had whittled down to just three, Savannah Chalen, Miceala Tribulato, and himself. Despite the smaller team size, team administrator Carolyne Deverearux-Cordell believes they were up to the task.
“The team was very well prepared for the competition. It was clear that Westside was the team to beat,” Deverearux-Cordell said.
As for the competition itself, Stovall explained that there are 400 questions in the official book, but only 38 to 40 are asked during the event. The competition is divided into multiple rounds. The first round consists of 11 questions on Black history, while the second has 13 questions.
“So the first round, you ask as many questions as you want and you don’t get points deducted, but the second round, if you answer questions wrong, you get points deducted,” Stovall said. “Then whoever wins those two goes into the final round.”
The team prepares for these competitions by studying African American history. They use several methods to expand their knowledge and improve recall. For their first year competing, Westside did well placing third overall. Although the team is determined to do even better next year.
“We prepare by studying a lot, which we obviously need to do a little more but that’s okay,” Stovall said.
Their preparation involves using flashcards, quizlets, and a book of history questions that they use to review and test their knowledge.
“We just keep practicing, and you can never really study too much,” Stovall added.
The team worked together both in preparation and during competitions, helping each other answer questions. Stovall plays a crucial part in that teamwork.
“If there was one question or part of a question that one team member did not know, another would jump in. Torrence was excellent with the names of slave ships,” Devereaux – Cordell said.
There were other challenges too. Stovall explained how other activities and sports sometimes got in the way of their study sessions.
“One of my biggest obstacles was swimming also having practices on Saturday, because that’s when we would also have our study sessions,” Stovall said.
The African American History Challenge Team does more than test students’ knowledge, it also brings people together in a shared love for Black history.
“I feel like it does [bring people together], especially for people that enjoy Black history,” Stovall said. “There were a good amount of people there. I feel like they were there because they enjoyed it.”
Looking ahead, Stovall is planning to return to the team next year. He encourages others who want to try something new to join the team, and is hopeful for the future.
“Yeah, I think I’ll be back for sure,” Stovall said. “We’ll get them next year.”
Through teamwork and dedication, Stovall and his teammates have not only gained valuable knowledge but also created lasting memories and connections.
“We’re all in it together at the end of the day,” Stovall said.
