The pyramidal questions are formed from clues progressing from harder to easier, and are designed to reward competitors for having deep knowledge of a subject. The multiple-part bonus questions are composed of two different parts — tossup questions and bonus questions.

Tossup questions are asked to both teams, and can be answered by the first player to buzz in. This player has the first opportunity to answer the question and if answered correctly, the player will have the opportunity to answer a bonus question. The team who answers the most questions correctly owns the contest.

“It’s kind of like competitive trivia,” physics junior and club president Brian Hanley said. “We have a team of four people, and we compete against another team of four people. We answer longer questions that go from usually about one topic, and they go from harder to easier clues about what the answer is. Anyone can answer it, and if they get it right then their team can answer three additional questions.”

Hanley said this year’s team is not as strong as the team was in previous years, but associates that with the high number of freshmen on the team.

“The past three years we’ve had really good players and we came in first in a couple tournaments,” Hanley said. “A lot of the upperclassmen have graduated – I’m a junior and I’m the oldest on the team.”

While the club may be known for its heavily academic side, it is also a way to create bonds with people. 

Accounting sophomore and quiz bowl team member Sarah Wrase credits the Quiz Bowl Team for helping her form her friend base at MSU.

“I really enjoy the people on the team,” Wrase said. “I’ve met most of my friends here, my roommate this year is someone who was on the team last year. ... I’m a competitive person, so obviously I enjoy that (aspect of quiz bowl) too.”

Political science sophomore and club ombudsperson Samantha Perry said she, too, found a welcoming group of friends since she’s joined the Quiz Bowl Team.

“I was really into Quiz Bowl in high school, because I enjoy trivia,” Perry said. “My main friend group is from quiz bowl. ... The vast majority of my friends, I’ve met through this. That’s what I get out of it.”