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US Academic Challenge Team Finishes School Year with National Competition

This year’s Academic Challenge Team (ACT) — affectionately known as the "Nerd Squad” — qualified for an NAQT National Championship competition for the third year in a row, after finishing amongst the top 15 percent of teams in multiple major tournaments throughout the Tri-State area. The NAQT’s 2012 National Championships were held at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, Georgia over Memorial Day weekend. Ranney captain Sanjit Shashi ’12 was joined by seniors Walter Cuje and Peter Goldberg, juniors Roey Hadar and Jake Bassinder, and sophomores Grant Parker and Vincent Morano, along with team advisor Douglas Felter, at this year’s event. While the best 240 teams from all 50 states competed in a brutal 10-match on Saturday, May 26, those teams earning at least six wins also vied for a national title on Sunday.

Within the past two years, Ranney has finished with 5-5 marks, just missing qualification for Sunday’s playoffs. This year, however, the team was determined to continue on to compete for a national title. Despite trying its hardest, the team missed qualifying for the playoffs in Game nine by a mere five points. With that, Ranney’s players realized that if they did not come out strong during Game 10 of the tournament, they would again return home one game short of advancing to the next round. Much to their surprise, the boys triumphed easily in Game 10, and prepared for the next day’s playoffs as Ranney was scheduled to compete against the Long Island powerhouse, Great Neck South High School, the following morning. Two hours after beginning the competition, Ranney fell just short of beating Great Neck (which finished at #21), as the team finished the tournament with six wins and four loses, ranking #79 — in the top one-third of all teams across the nation. To round out their trip to Georgia, the group also visited such sights as CNN, the World of Coca-Cola and the High Museum of Art.

During what marked the team’s most successful school year in Ranney ACT history, Roey Hadar was acknowledged by the coaches of the State of New Jersey as a First-Team All-State player as well. In addition, the “Nerd Squad” competed in an another international competition — the Knowledge Master Open — where it not only finished fourth in the State of New Jersey, but also 43rd over more than 500 teams throughout the competition. Both events yielded all-time high scores for the “Nerd Squad.” "I was very excited by the team's growth this year," said Roey, "but we will have to find quality replacements after we lose Sanjit, Peter and Walter to graduation."

Although Roey’s returning teammates, Jake, Grant and Vincent are more than ready to step up and fill those positions, the team is still looking to expand. Practices take place at least three times per week in Room 127 during lunch. Plans are in place to have a day devoted to practice for freshmen and sophomores in order to help them prepare for future participation.
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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society.