Winston Churchill (MD)

Winston Churchill High School
Location: Potomac, MD
Coaches	Neil Hazard
State Championships	Maryland
National Championships	1989 PAC
Program Status	Unknown
School Size	Unknown
NAQT Page	link

Winston Churchill High School, also known as Churchill, is a public high school in Potomac, Maryland.

History

Winston Churchill High School was established in 1964. The majority of its students come from Herbert Hoover Middle School (75%) and Cabin John Middle School (25%)^[1]. The school's current principal is Dr. Joan C. Benz. The team is currently coached by Neil Hazard, father of former member Chris Hazard.

During the 2012-2013 School Year, the team was led by senior Captain Prithish David, and supported by senior Ram Jayaraman, and juniors Nikhil Perincherry and Yousuf Khan. During this year, the team won in a local competition known as Quizmaster Challenge, but was unable to secure a victory in their local Montgomery Academic Beltway League. The team also advanced to the final round of the statewide "It's Academic" T.V. Show, a feat not accomplished by the school in over a decade. The team came in second place losing to James Hubert Blake High School.

During the 2013-2014 School Year, the team was led by senior Captain Nikhil Perincherry, and supported by seniors Dominic Singer, Yousuf Khan, and Andrew Crutchfield. During this year the team won two local competitions: the Montgomery Academic Beltway League and MCPSTV's Quizmaster Challenge. The team also participated in the statewide "It's Academic" T.V. Show but lost to Holton Arms High School in the playoff.

During the 2014-2015 School Year, the team was led by senior Captain Yash Nigam, and supported by senior Michelle Yuen and juniors John Dorsey and Shayan Sadegh. During this year the team finished without any prizes. The team lost in the semi-finals round of It's Academic. This was also the final year in which Winston Churchill High competed on Quizmaster Challenge, for the show was cancelled after the 2014-2015 season.

During the 2015-2016 School Year, the team was led by senior Captain John Dorsey, and supported by seniors Shayan Sadegh and Mark Weinstein, and sophomore Jiawei Bai. During this year the team finished without any prizes, although came very close in multiple tournaments. The team once again lost in the semi-finals round of It's Academic, to Walt Whitman High School.

During the 2016-2017 School Year, the team was led by junior Captain Jiawei Bai, and supported by seniors David Miller and John Sarihan as well as junior Pranav Tandon. In October 2016, the team came in 3rd place at an invitational tournament hosted by James Hubert Blake High School. The team lost in the semi-finals round of It's Academic to Blake High School.

During the 2017-2018 School Year, the team was led by senior Captain Jiawei Bai, supported by senior Pranav Tandon, junior Melanie Heller, and sophomores Manu Sundar and Jonathan Silverman. The team was eliminated from It's Academic in the play-off round against Richard Montgomery High School.

Competitions

The WCHS Quizbowl team participates mainly in the local Montgomery Academic Beltway League and Quizmaster Challenge. The team also participates in the "It's Academic" T.V. Show. Occasionally the team participates in various other tournaments that local schools and facilities host.

Notable Members

• Jordan Ellerberg '89
• Derek Gritz '12
• Sam Gross '12
• Christopher Hazard '12
• Prithish David '13
• Nikhil Perincherry '14
• Yash Nigam '15
• Michelle Yuen '15
• John Dorsey '16
• Shayan Sadegh '16
• Mark Weinstein '16

Succession of Titles

Panasonic Academic Challenge Champion
Preceded by	Year	Succeeded by
Rockville	1989	Ballard