Siva Sundaram
Siva "The Destroyer" Sundaram | |
Noted subjects | Science, destruction |
Current college | Harvard (2009-) |
Past colleges | None |
High school | Rockford Auburn (2006-2009) |
Stats | HDWhite • NAQT |
Former member of Rockford's Auburn High School quiz bowl team. He's widely known as one of the best Illinois quiz bowl players ever, and he currently holds pretty much every record there is to hold in Auburn High School quiz bowl. He began playing varsity quiz bowl for Auburn from his freshman year, and he was a key part of all of Auburn's success during his high school career, including an Illinois triple-crown in 2008 (Masonic, NAQT, IHSA) and a 7th-place finish at the 2009 NAQT HSNCT. He was part of the 2008 Team Illinois national champion all-star squad at the now-renamed Panasonic Academic Challenge. His individual accomplishments include three selections to the IHSSBCA All-State first team (2007-2009) and a first-place finish at New Trier's Scobowl Solo in 2008.
Destruction
Siva is known for his high scoring, a result of his aggressive and sometimes out-of-control buzzing. He maintains a high power-to-neg ratio, but as a captain of Auburn quiz bowl from his sophomore year onwards, he has helped Auburn live up to its reputation as a team prone to neg-storms. At the 2007 Decemberist, he obtained the neg prize, which was a Jane Austen action figure. An agreement was made in 2009 to give that neg prize to Auburn teammate and Janeite Lloyd Sy, which still hasn't happened.
Perhaps one of the most memorable moments in Siva's career and a testament to his quiz bowl prowess came during the final match at the 2009 IHSA state tournament, a loss to Carbondale.
Rob Grierson: Tossup: Journalism. This German--
Buzz
Siva: Zenger
Needless to say, the IHSA-required category-giving contributed to the answer as much as the question itself, but Siva's destructive capabilities are showcased nonetheless.