TORRINGTON, Wyo. – Eastern Wyoming College recently hosted the Wyoming Academic Challenge, welcoming high school students from across the state for a weekend of fast-paced academic competition.

This year’s winners included teams: Cheyenne Central in first place, Greybull 1 in second, and Cheyenne East 2 in third. A total of 14 teams competed.

The Cheyenne Central team included Eliza Scranton, Brett Klein, Henry McGuire, Kennedy Bartow, and Henry Lance. The Greybull 1 team was made up of Bradin Ewen, Cooper Nelson, Luejan Hoffman, and CJ Fink. Cheyenne East 2 included team members Arig Dreifus, Lucas Ledesma, and Finn Knepper.

Founded in 1996, the Wyoming Academic Challenge (WAC) is Wyoming’s premier quiz bowl circuit, awarding tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships each year to high-achieving students. The program provides a structured season of academic contests for high schools statewide, culminating in a state tournament.

During the competition at EWC, teams competed in multiple rounds of questions spanning a wide range of academic subjects. Using a buzzer system, participants answered oral toss-up questions and, in some formats, completed written rounds designed to test depth of knowledge and teamwork.

Each contest in the WAC series includes four to five rounds of play, with formats that may feature oral toss-up questions or toss-up/bonus combinations.

At the conclusion of the event, awards were presented to the top three finishing schools, as well as the highest-placing small school (with enrollment of 250 or fewer students). Individual medals were also awarded to top-performing students, with select participants earning all-state recognition. Coaches across the league will later select the top 15 individuals for all-state honors, and six standout students will be named to Team Wyoming, which will compete in an all-star match against Montana in June.

Three teenage boys wearing medals stand smiling in front of a Wyoming Academic Challenge banner in a classroom setting.

Four people stand in front of a Wyoming Academic Challenge banner, wearing medals around their necks. One person holds up a medal. An audience members head is visible in the foreground. A clock is on the wall.

Five smiling students stand in a row wearing medals in front of a Wyoming Academic Challenge banner, suggesting they are participants or winners in an academic competition.