DEMOPOLIS &045; Finding four smart students at any school isn’t too terribly difficult. But finding four smart students that can beat out four other smart students from schools across the state is a little more difficult.

Demopolis High School found four diamonds in the rough amongst their students with the ability to beat out the best and brightest from across the state &045; and in a convincing manner no less. The Demopolis High School LifeSmarts Team, which is made up of team captain Katie Reeves, Victoria Barley, Matthew Cox and Gracie Smith, beat all comers in the state competition on their way to a flawless victory in the quiz bowl style event.

The team, which could have been an underdog coming into its first sate appearance, had to run the gamut to even make it to the state level. The team was required to take three consecutive tests to even begin to qualify for competition on the state level. In the end the top 10 teams that lead the scoring in the three tests were invited to come and compete with the best the state had to offer.

The team attended the event sponsored by the Alabama Cooperative System, Alabama Public Television, Alabama Jumpstart Coalition and the Alabama Securities Commission with a bit of trepidation. After winning the first road of the competition they were faced with a team from a school that had one the event the previous year.

It was a bitter pill they would have to swallow twice as, after winning the losers bracket in the double elimination tournament, they were once again faced with the team from Demopolis. A second attempt and a second loss sent them home and qualified the undefeated Demopolis High School team for nationals.

The team has a position at the national competition in Orlando on April 21. Now members of the team are out and about looking for business to sponsor their undefeated, fledgling team so they can attend and continue their undefeated trend.

To sponsor the team, contact Lucinda Mason at the Demopolis High School 334-289-0294.