The Middle School National Championship Tournament (MSNCT) is NAQT’s (National Academic Quiz Team) premier middle school event. The tournament is held near the end of each school year and features the top quiz bowl teams from across the United States and beyond.

Teams qualify for the MSNCT by their performance at tournaments held throughout the year using questions supplied by NAQT. The YISS MS NAQT A team was among the 160 teams that qualified for the 2024 MSNCT was held on May 10–12 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago, Illinois. 

YISS’s MS NAQT A team members, Ryan C. (8), Chris H. (8), Elisa M. (7), and Ryan P. (8), tackled trivia-style academic and pop culture questions for three days, and they finished strong for their first tournament. Elisa Min, 7th grade, captained the team, and each member contributed according to their favored areas of study. The students enjoyed meeting other students from around the United States as they battled in different rounds throughout the weekend. YISS ended the tournament strong for their first appearance winning three out of eight rounds.  

While in Chicago, students were able to visit Millenium Park and Navy Pier. It was a beautiful weekend to walk around the city. Students also were able to try some Chicago favorites like deep-dish pizza. A highlight of the weekend was being able to visit Target to stock up on some American treats. The kids fought off jet lag and performed well at the tournament. We are eager to see what next year’s NAQT team will be able to accomplish.