By Christina Leslie | Staff Writer

Young scholars from St. Rose School, Belmar, carried the first place team trophy to its new home one block south after their win in the 12th annual St. Rose High School Invitational Scholastic Bowl. Students from nine Catholic grammar schools of the Diocese participated Oct. 26 in nine subject areas for both team and individual honors.

Each school sponsored a team of seventh and eighth grade students who competed, one per subject area, in the fields of current events, English, geography, mathematics, religion, science, social studies and spelling. Individual student scores on 30-minute, multiple choice tests were combined to determine team scores and the overall winner. Students were invited to compete individually in a ninth subject area, Spanish; these test scores were not included in team totals.

In addition to the winning trophy, the St. Rose team earned a $2,000 tuition certificate for use at St. Rose High School. Second-place winners St. Peter School, Point Pleasant Beach, (last year’s overall winner) and third-place St. Jerome School, West Long Branch, each earned $1,000 tuition certificates.

Individual students who achieved the top test scores in each of the nine tests were themselves awarded $1,000 tuition certificates for use at the Belmar high school. The winners in each of the subject areas were: English, Alexa Usack, St. Aloysius School, Jackson; mathematics, Christian Keane, St. Catherine School, Spring Lake; religion, Emily Madiera, St. Veronica School, Howell; science, Erin Murphey, St. Joseph School, Toms River; social studies, Mercedes Escandon, St. Dominic School, Brick, and spelling, Ava Ossowski, St. Veronica School. Mia Quiles of St. Rose School won the Spanish subject test. Students in Holy Innocents School, Neptune, also competed in the annual scholastic bowl.

Two students who had tasted success as seventh graders last year found that a second trip to the winner’s circle, this time as eighth graders, was just as sweet. St. Peter School student, Ethan Harm, who had tied for first in the geography category last year, held the trophy alone this year. Joseph Peracchio, formerly of St. Denis School, Manasquan, won top honors in the current events category again this year as a St. Rose School student.

Sister of St. Joseph Kathleen Nace, principal of St. Rose High School, welcomed the competitors and led them in a prayer. High school student ambassadors escorted the young competitors to classrooms for testing, then back to the cafeteria for a joyous awards ceremony before parents, teachers and friends.