Coastal Carolina University's Academic Quiz Bowl team competed in the Big South Conference Quiz Bowl Tournament championship recently on the campus of Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, N.C.

Seven college teams competed: CCU, Gardner-Webb University, High Point University, Liberty University, Longwood University, Presbyterian College and Winthrop University. The Big South Quiz Bowl competition is an outgrowth of the conference's Academic Consortium, designed to develop institutional relationships outside of athletics.

In the Big South Quiz Bowl, four student teams compete throughout the day in timed head-to-head challenges. The topics cover a wide area, from traditional academic subjects to current pop culture and sports, making well-rounded knowledge among the team members the greatest asset for game success. Teams received wins and losses for each match, with the day's total points deciding the winners.

Coastal Carolina's team included Jordan Rutherford (biology senior from Spartanburg), Amber Eckersley (history and English senior from Conway), Emma Johnson (marine science senior from Maiden, N.C.), Dylan Fender (political science freshman from Greenwood) and alternate players Alex Tavernier (graphic arts senior from Surfside Beach) and Kevin Kern (applied physics senior from Conway). Additional CCU players included Stephen Rosen (marine science freshman from New Market, Md.) and Travis Miller (an applied math /engineering freshman from Irmo) .CCU team captain Jordan Rutherford led all individual scorers in the competition with 190 points, followed by Presbyterian College's Eric Blake with 160 points, then Gardner-Webb's Steven Kern (145).

David Duncan, a faculty member in the Department of Math and Statistics, served as CCU's team coach with assistance from Jim Wright, an instructional resource consultant in Instructional Technology Services. Both Duncan and Wright provided coaching to the students throughout the academic year and see the tournament as an opportunity for the students to build camaraderie, confidence and sportsmanship as well as enhancing their learning skills.

"I was pleased to see that so many of the brightest students from Big South Conference schools were able to attend," said Wright. "I was particularly proud of our team and how well they competed against other talented teams."

The Big South Conference's Academic Consortium's mission is to develop institutional relationships outside of athletics and to explore ways to share programs and resources to the benefit of students and member institutions.

Big South Conference Commissioner Kyle B. Kallander presented Liberty with the First Place trophy along with individual plaques for each member of the winning team. 2013 Quiz Bowl Final Standings:

1. Liberty (6-0)

2. Longwood (4-2)

3. Gardner-Webb (3-3)

4. Coastal Carolina (3-3)

5. Presbyterian (3-3)

6. High Point (1-5)

7. Winthrop (1-5)

For more information about the tournament or Coastal's Quiz Bowl team, please contact David Duncan at 843-349-4164 dduncan@coastal.edu.