Shelby Ziemer

Favorite Memorized Passage:

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:13-14

Honors:

• ANYC Top Quizzer (2013, 2014)
• CI Top Quizzer (2012, 2015)
• ANYC Champion (2015)

Shelby Ziemer began her Bible quiz journey in the 2007 season as an eight-year old. She started on Hebrews, I & II Peter and then graduated in 2016 quizzing under the same material. Shelby recalls her favorite memory from Bible quiz coming in her first season. According to Shelby, “I jumped up on a give the reference: ‘By Faith E…’ I guessed Hebrews 11:7 and it was right! I couldn’t believe it!” This would be just the beginning of correct answers for Shelby.

Under the coaching of her legendary father Roscoe Ziemer, Shelby grew into one of the best quizzers in the country. Known for her ability to recall verses and answer questions with precision, Shelby rarely found herself in error trouble caused by over-aggression. To beat Shelby’s team, one could not count on her to error.

Quizzing alongside her siblings in different combinations of Weston, Tamara, Parker, Ashley, and Carson, she had dominant success in the Piedmont Quizzing Association and contended for major tournament victories throughout her career. A two-team quizzing specialist, nobody in their right mind wanted to face Z-Team or Bethel Calvary in the finals.

As a Junior in high school in the 2015 season, quizzing over the book of Matthew, Shelby led Bethel Calvary to a major tournament victory at the New Year’s Classic, defeating Athens in the championship on their home turf. While Shelby did not participate in the end of the year tournaments, SCQANIT and AACS, she attended the New Year’s Classic and Colorado Invitational tournament each year of high school, earning four #1 top quizzer medals.

Shelby advises current quizzers, “Do more than just mindlessly memorizing verses. Strive to truly understand them so you can know God better. It will help you as a quizzer, but more importantly in your personal walk with God. Also, don’t focus too much on the competition and don’t get a big head. God has blessed you with the amazing ability to memorize and recall Scripture. Give God the glory! She cites I Cor 10:31, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

Now as a high school (and college) graduate, with her official Bible quizzing days behind her, Shelby has found that memorizing all that Scripture has been a huge asset to her. “God has brought verses to my mind right when I needed them, whether it was a personal need or during counseling situations with others. It’s truly amazing!”

As a competitor of Shelby’s, her fast recall, lack of critical errors, and knowledge of the material always impressed me and inspired me to do better. My favorite (or, should I say least favorite) memory of Shelby was in the Blue Ridge championship quiz in 2012 between Bethel-Calvary and Temple. In a very close quiz to be determined on question twenty, the quizmaster, Mr. George Wood asked, “What two in John fourt..?” Shelby’s light went off, she walked up to the microphone, and without hesitation answered, “Oh! Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” After giving her answer, she walked back to her seat where she was ruled correct, resulting in Bethel Calvary taking home the 1st place trophy.

I greatly enjoyed quizzing against Shelby Ziemer through the years and now it is my privilege to induct her into the Biblequizzer.net Hall of Fame!