CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Sherrard Middle School Team One from Wheeling, Marshall County, won the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History’s (WVDACH) 13th annual West Virginia State History Bowl Championship held Tuesday, April 26, at the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex.

Shady Spring Middle School Team One from Shady Spring, Raleigh County, was the runner-up in the competition that included 24 teams of eighth graders from 19 middle schools in 12 counties across the state.

Lila Roman of Sherrard Middle School Team One was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. The all-tournament team, made up of students who demonstrated exceptional knowledge and teamwork during the day-long tournament, included Morgan Messner, Sherrard Middle School Team One; Roman Gevenosky, Shady Spring Middle School Team One; Eli Broyles, Peterstown Middle School Team One; Levi Dalton, Peterstown Middle School Team One; and Isabel Miller, Keyser Middle School Team One.

The double-elimination tournament includes lightning rounds and team rounds featuring questions about state and county history, culture, heritage, tourism, geography, government and sports prepared by the staff of the department’s Archives and History section. Eighth graders in public, private and home-school education programs are eligible to compete on the four-person teams.

-The championship team, Sherrard Middle School Team One, included students Avery Etzel, Joell Gonchoff, Morgan Messner and Lila Roman.
-The runner-up team, Shady Spring Middle School Team One, included students Avary Bragg, Roman Gevenosky and Alyssa Sweeney.
-The third-place team, Peterstown Middle School Team One, included students Eli Broyles, Levi Dalton, Conner Dillon and Piper Hickman.
-The fourth-place team, Keyser Middle School Team One, included students Celia Cole, Ben Heavener, Isaac Jones and Isabel Miller.

For more information, contact Matt McGrew, tournament director and education coordinator for Archives and History, at (304) 558-0230 or [email protected].