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Faith SC may be good, as they have been for years, but they are losing Kelton Balka, who was a huge part of that team.  I heard he may quiz with Calvary, which, if true, would really sway the balance of power.

I think Wisconsin could be the best team this year. I'm almost positive that they have Luke returning for one more year, and he is a dynamite quizzer when at his best. Another team that should probably be considered is Woodside (CO). They seem to be poised to make another run at the AACS championship. I like Calvary (FL) as a team, but I think that several not-likely-to-be-repeated factors played into their role as national champions. AND, although they won AACS, nearly everyone agrees that they were not the best team overall for '08-'09. (Except, of course, Matt West, who has every right to disagree; and also makes excellent arguments in their favor.) Maybe PVKY will be a factor, but that mainly depends on their ability to fulfill their abundance of talent and to overcome their weakened experience level. Losing Autumn basically takes 100-120 guaranteed points out of their game, points they must replace with either less experienced or less talented quizzzers. The same can probably be said for NY (although NY quizzers start when they're like four or something, right? haha jk) and PA.

K.

If Kelton quizzes with Calvary, they become the concensus preseason #1. Taking the best quizzer from the last year's debatable best team and putting him on the debatable number two or three team gives them the edge. Like take Kobe and put him on Cavaliers, Cleveland wins NBA championship (why do I use these stupid metaphors??)

Wisconsin: Last year they didn't do as well, but the year before (when, I think, Luke said he didn't quiz) they got second to us at Nationals; and Luke Rains (?) quizzed out like every round in the finals. I expect a big comeback this year.

PA: You guys lost three quizzers? Wow. I thought they still had a few more years. But, PA has ALWAYS had great coaching and I'm sure they will do fine.

that's all folks….(Gosh, there's a stupid reference to bugs bunny)

Calvary was not a factor in 08-09? Are you kidding?? They won the Colorado Invitational that year, got third at Squanit, and third at Nationals. They were a great team. Even if Kelton does not quiz with them, they have the best quizzer in the country, the fastest jumper in the country, and now have the experience. The thing that is keeping them being the favorite is their inconsistency. If Kelsey comes through this year, however, this team will be scary good.

Kelton Balka. Hands down. He has an amazing talent level and his thinking-while-quizzing skills are through the roof.

If I couldn't pick him, I think I'd go with David Tyrell. Excellent quoting and quizzing abilities, a rarity in BQ.

BUT Alex: In '08-'09, PVKY won CI, Calvary didn't. New York won Athens, Calvary MIGHT have been top ten, and at Squanit they got like 12. I think that is what Luke was saying.

Alex

As the 08-09 year would be the past quizzing year, Calvary's only real success came at Nationals. And the year before 07-08 over Romans and James, I did not quiz and really didn't here what went on, just that KY was winning just about everything, just like the two previous years. What I was trying to say is I expected Calvary to take KY's place and become the dominate team in 07-08, but it just didn't happen. I don't know if that makes things any clearer, but whatever.

As for the one quizzer thing, I'd take Tyler Zeimer. David Tyrell would be my next choice. Tyler gets the nod cause David seems to go through stretches were he errors quite a bit. I personally have not seen Tyler do that. He just runs out of support. And I love his finish the verses too.

Tyler is a great quzzer, but I thought he graduated….shows how much I know.

OK, let me try to bring clarity to all of the Calvary FL talk on this subject.  The first year they were on the national scene (2006-07), they were very good and one of the concensus top three teams.  They lost to FBCCF (one of the other concensus top three teams) at FACCS, so they did not go to AACS.  Most people, apparently including Luke, thought they had great things ahead of them.  Have they had a Kentucky-like dominance?  No.  But if the question is, “have they accomplished great things?” then I think the answer is yes.

The year Luke did not quiz (2007-08), Calvary had a great year, finishing in the top three of every tournament, including beating the aforementioned Kentucky dynasty for wins at West Virginia, Asheville, and Colorado.  Of course, Kentucky (Pleasant View) won more tournaments (and I think they split their team in 2 of those 3 tourney losses) and was the better overall team.  But Luke, in the year you missed, Calvary was great.

Then in this last year (2008-09), Calvary did not have Kelsey in any tournament except Colorado, SCQANIT, and AACS.  They finished in the top five in all three, including an AACS win without Paige Warren, due to a paperwork error.  So, while we could say it was a disappointing year and they may not have been the best team, they still did pretty well.  And Kelsey and David still have a year left to quiz and accomplish things. 

So, while that isn't a Kentucky-like dominance (hey, I've been around Bible Quiz since the early 80's and noone else has equaled Kentucky), I think the thought that they would be a great team has been mostly fulfilled, especially if they do good things this coming year (2009-10).  Also, much of the reason they did not have a Kentcuky-like dominance is that in their best year to date (2007-08), PVKY won all the tournaments that they did not.  So, Kentucky kept Calvary from having dominance.  At any rate, while their final chapter is not yet written, I think many people would be very pleased with their career.  They won AACS.  They are the only team in the three-year PVKY reign to beat PVKY more than once in the same year.  Who, other than PVKY, has been better the last three years?

How about this…what “retired” quizzer would you most like on your team?  I quizzed with and against a lot of really good quizzers during my quizzing career, so I'd have to give it some real deep thought to pick MY ideal teammate (I rarely have time for deep thought, haha).  But it would probably have to be someone who was really really good at quotes or finish these verses.  I'd take the reference questions. 

oh yeah…

Calvary has been a great team. I think that (as West so adequately said) they were arguably the second best team in '06-'07. They are now in a unique position that is tough to handle. The hardest thing is to build upon the success at Nationals from last year. Athens will be the real test of their greatness. Consistency is the true mark of great teams….