Academic team takes first place

Front row: Anna Feldbush  and Fatima Hussein. Row 2: Daniel Borneman, River Grace, Caleb Bryant, Melinda Silaghi,  Molly Minta, Coach Angela Feldbush.

courtesy Angela Feldbush

Front row: Anna Feldbush and Fatima Hussein. Row 2: Daniel Borneman, River Grace, Caleb Bryant, Melinda Silaghi, Molly Minta, Coach Angela Feldbush.

The school’s academic team took first place in districts after its last match of the season Monday. Members include seniors Caleb Bryant and Molly Minta, sophomores River Grace and Melinda Silaghi and freshmen Daniel Borneman, Anna Feldbush and Fatima Hussain.

Coach Angela Feldbush pointed to the team’s most veteran member as a key to success.

“It’s really a team effort, but we have one senior that’s been very strong, and that’s Caleb Bryant,” Feldbush said. “He’s been on the team for four years so he’s really built up and become stronger as the years have gone by.”

Bryant’s emergence has helped fill the void left by Brandon Bailer, who graduated last May.

” For a long time we have relied on [Bailer],” Feldbush said. “He went to states for the past two years.”

Each team member specializes in particular area and uses website-based questions for practice.

West Shore will compete in the district championship tournament against Brevard County’s six top teams Monday.

“It’s going to be a really tough match,” Feldbush said. “Any team there could win it’s the six strongest teams in the county. If we have a good night, then we can definitely win. Cocoa has only lost twice — both times to us — so we definitly have the ability to beat them. It’s really going to depend on the questions.”

By Matthew Volk