Finding the right fit at Durant High School came quickly for Evan Schoeni. “I got involved with the Durant academic team at freshman orientation,” Schoeni said. “Mrs. McMichael and a few upperclassmen had a booth set up, and as soon as they were explaining the academic team, I knew it was a club I wanted to join.”
As a freshman, Schoeni has already carved out his interests within competition. “My favorite categories are geography, music, and sports because those are my favorite topics to study outside of school,” he said.
Preparation is a steady routine for the Lions. “The team prepares for competitions by practicing every Wednesday, and everyone on the team is encouraged to do individual studies on their topics,” Schoeni said.
He has embraced his place on the roster while continuing to learn from others. “I would say my role on the team right now is to answer as many questions as I can correctly and also to keep team morale high,” Schoeni said. “I also take the opportunity to learn from upperclassmen, such as Stella Rhynes, Carson Veenstra, and Caden Musset.”
The fast pace of competition brings its own obstacles. “I would say the biggest challenge in a fast-paced match is getting over nerves, and math problems, as they are very difficult to do in a 10-second time frame,” he said.
According to Schoeni, collaboration is essential. “Teamwork is one of the most important things in an academic team,” he said. “It is so important to know everyone’s strengths and weaknesses so that you can coordinate who is good at answering certain questions.”
One moment stands out early in his career. “A big match for me this season was at Tishomingo because it was my first ever match, and the members there showed such great hospitality and really made it an amazing experience,” Schoeni said.
The benefits extend beyond competition. “Academic team has helped me in the classroom because I am more inclined to learn about school topics so that I can perform better in matches,” he said.
He encourages others to give it a chance. “I would tell everyone to try out the academic team at least once,” Schoeni said.
Looking ahead, his goals are clear. “My goals for the season are to bond with the team and to make state because that would be amazing for my first year,” he said.
Schoeni added, “I am involved in the Pride of Durant Band, and I ran for regional office in the Technology Student Association in February of last year.” After high school, he said, “I want to attend the University of Oklahoma for aviation and become a pilot.”
