At the June 14 Catasauqua Area School Board meeting, Catasauqua Middle School Principal Melissa Inselmann reported the CMS Scholastic Bowl team won second place in the 32nd Academic Challenge Eighth competition, held March 28-30 at Panther Valley High School.

“We haven’t won a challenge in years,” Inselmann reported.

She noted the team, comprised of Kevin McGaughran, Dominick Matinelli, Scott Columbia, Phoenix Corbin, Eli Tomecek and Dillan McGaughran, has been practicing for the competition since the fall. The team was led by new CMS teacher Tom Leeds, who stepped up to serve as the adviser.

“We are all very proud of their hard work and dedication,” Inselmann said.

The ACE competition featured eight regional middle schools competing against each other - Catasauqua, Northwestern Lehigh, Northern Lehigh, Lehighton, Palmerton, Jim Thorpe, Tamaqua and Panther Valley. Jim Thorpe took first place, with Tamaqua placing third.

“As a former Quiz Bowl member, I can appreciate how hard that was,” Duane Deitrich, school board president, said during the June 14 meeting.