No Teammates, No Problem

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Published on Monday, 24 January 2011 20:57

Outnumbered but not outmatched, Donahue Academy junior Michael John Dauphinais singlehandedly beat two other Naples-area high schools in a Scholar Bowl match Saturday, competing solo against teams with the normal complement of four players. In a second match, the Ave Maria teen finished second.

"It was different," he said, "the other teams were quite complimentary." (Right, Michael John alone at his table for the competition.)

Michael John found himself alone in the varsity Scholar Bowl matches at Golden Gate High School Saturday because the rest of his team was in Washington, D.C., for the March for Life.

He said the classical education offered at the Donahue Academy provides a large breadth of knowledge that served him well.

"I found I had an edge on questions dealing with philosophy, math and the fine arts in particular," he said.

The high school county Scholar Bowl tournament is in March and this is the first year the Donahue Academy has a varsity team competing.

In practice matches so far this year, Donahue has finished first three times, including Michael John's match, and finished second three times. In all the second-place finishes, the matches were won by Community School of Naples.

The scores from Saturday:

First Match: Donahue Academy 214, Palmetto Ridge 174, Lely 149.
Second Match: Community School 272, Donahue 196, Golden Gate 165.