WV Dept. of Ed Names Morgantown High School Academic Showdown Grand Champion

Charleston, W.Va. – Morgantown High School Team 2 from Monongalia County was named the 2025 Academic Showdown Grand Champion today during the season finale at the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston. Bluefield High School from Mercer County was named the runner-up. Today's victory marks Morgantown's third consecutive win in this competition. 

Advantage Technology donated electronic devices for members of the first- and second-place teams, and the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) awarded grants to each team to support their efforts in preparing for the 2026 Showdown season.
 
Teams will receive the following based on placement:

• First place: Each member receives a Dell Chromebook, and the team will receive a $1,000 grant.
• Second place: Each member receives a pair of noise-cancelling headphones, and the team will receive an $800 grant.
• Third – Fourteenth place: Each team receives a $300 grant.

Additionally, five students were named to the All-Academic team, with each member receiving a plaque commemorating the honor. This team is comprised of the five top-performing players:

• Jacob Hylton, Spring Mills High School
• Lucille Dahle, Morgantown High School
• Addison Dangerfield, Nitro High School
• Titus Holcomb, Bluefield High School
• Dash Carey-Squire, Huntington High School

Since January, the WVDE has hosted 81 teams from 47 high schools at 7 regional competitions across the state. The Showdown remains one of the nation’s largest high school academic match-up style competitions to use National Academic Quiz Tournament questions. This competition was established in 2022 to celebrate academic achievement with the same pomp and circumstance as athletics.

First- and second-place teams from each regional competition include:

Throughout this season, students in Grades 9-12 have demonstrated their knowledge of various academic disciplines and current events.

"The thing I immediately thought on that final point was 'we did it.' We wanted to have fun, but also wanted to be competitive. We are ecstatic that we have won three years in a row," said Morgantown High School Team 2 Captain Julianna Ferrell. "We have so many wonderful teachers that have prepared us for this event, and we are thankful for them. Through practice, we have developed so many inside jokes and have shared in each other’s interests."

"Appearing in the finale is a culmination of years of hard work. There were moments where we thought we would be eliminated, but we forged on and placed second," said Bluefield High School Team Captain Quinn Brown. "Although we placed second, I think it’s incredible that a school as small as ours has displayed such camaraderie and talent in making it this far."

"We are thrilled with the response from our students and educators. They have shown a real commitment to the Academic Showdown, spending a significant part of their year preparing to compete. It goes to show that learning can look differently and still be effective,” said State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt. “In addition, the festive atmosphere, the students who come to cheer on their teams, the band and the cheerleaders all make this a memorable and exciting event for everyone involved."

The regional competitions allowed students and their families to visit college and university campuses across the state, providing them with a deeper look into post-secondary opportunities, student life and campus facilities. 

The recorded Showdown stream can be viewed on YouTube courtesy of West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB).

The Showdown is a partnership between the WVDE, the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, WVPB, and the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.

Event photos can be viewed in the WVDE’s Flickr album.