After a dramatic competition, Randolph IB Middle School’s National Academic League team won the 2009-2010 national championship. The 24-member team learned April 16 it beat Wasatch Junior High to take the title.

Randolph’s team competed against the school from Salt Lake City, Utah by teleconference on Wednesday, April 14. The game went into two overtimes and one round of sudden death before Randolph’s team won the final question.

“It was one of the most exciting things I’ve had happen in my 37 years in the schools,” said Randolph Principal Jackie Menser.

After Wasatch’s team protested the results, judges from national headquarters were called in. The judges reviewed the results and declared Randolph the official winner late Thursday night. The students were called into the media center Friday, April 16, to hear the results of the judges’ deliberation.

“The mood as they came in was pretty subdued. I think a lot of them had been preparing themselves for the worst,” Menser said. But when the students found out they had won, “They went berserk.”

Last year, Randolph’s team competed in the national championship, but fell just short of this year’s victory, being named national runner up.

From October through March, teams compete against each other on a local level. Local champions then go on to challenge each other for the title of national champion. Participating in NAL tests the students’ public speaking, presentation and research skills. It also teaches them how to work collaboratively.

“Some of the members play on athletic teams and some don’t, but this is another opportunity for them to learn to function as a team,” Menser said.