After an all-day event at Shepherd University on Saturday, January 25 featuring teams from seven schools in the region, one of Berkeley Springs High School’s Academic Showdown teams will go on to compete in the state’s 2025 final competition in Charleston in April.
Two teams have advanced from the 2025 Academic Showdown Region 7 competition at Shepherd University, which included teams from Berkeley Springs High School, Frankfort High School, Hampshire High School, Martinsburg High School, Moorefield High School, Petersburg High School and Spring Mills High School.
Spring Mills High School Team 1 from Berkeley County placed first, and Berkeley Springs High School Team 1 placed second after beating the second Berkeley Springs High School team in a consolation round. The wins secure both teams a spot in the Showdown finale at the West Virginia Culture Center on April 30.
Members of the Berkeley Springs High School Team 1 are captain Hunter Hook, Caelyn Bartley, Camden Spade and William Bottomley.
photo courtesy of West Virginia Department of Education
Berkeley Springs High School Team 2 made it to the semi-finals on Saturday, getting knocked out by Spring Mills Team 1. Team 2 members are captain Elliot Jurick, Oliver Jurick, Elizabeth Kessel and Kevin Anderson.
The West Virginia Department of Education and Shepherd University hosted the January 25 competition.
“The Academic Showdown is always enjoyable and challenges us to work seamlessly as a team. It is a rigorous but equally rewarding experience,” said Spring Mills High School Team 1 Captain Jude Stone. “We have been practicing every week since October of last year to prepare for this event, and I’m glad all that hard work paid off. I’m looking forward to seeing fellow competitors in Charleston.”
