Buzzers, bonus questions and road trips have become a big part of life for Durant junior Stella Rhynes, who first found academic team in a moment that felt straight off television. “Natalia, our team manager, was at a freshman orientation event handing out candy to those who participated in a mini game at a booth,” Rhynes said. “It made me feel like I was on a game show, and I’ve stuck with it since.”
On the buzzer, she leans into her strengths. “I am most successful with history and media, such as movies, TV shows, and literature,” she said. Despite their success, practice time is limited. “We unfortunately do not have the luxury of a class period during the school day to practice,” Rhynes said. “We only practice once a week after school.”
Her impact goes beyond answering questions. “I view myself as an encourager on the team,” she said. “I love seeing everyone’s special skills shine.” With high stakes comes a mental battle. “The biggest challenge we face in a high-stakes match is self-doubt,” Rhynes said. “It’s easy to question if you actually have the answer and hesitancy can give the other team an advantage.”
Relationships and chemistry drive their success. “Communication and teamwork are vital,” she said. “To be successful in a game, you have to be aware of everyone’s strengths and weaknesses.” One day stands out from this season. “My most memorable moment of this season was driving to Noble for the first match of the season and spending the entire day out of school with the team,” Rhynes said.
The benefits carry back into the classroom. “I would say it definitely helps with my memorization skills and studying key facts for tests,” she said. She wants others to know the door is open. “You do not need to be the smartest kid in school to join,” Rhynes said. “Everyone on team comes different academic outlooks and skill sets. The more diversity, the better.”
The bar is set high for the postseason. “Our goal is to be successful at area and make it state!” she said. Away from the buzzer, she keeps a full slate. “I am proud to say I’ve maintained a 4.0 GPA on top of my honors and AP classes. I also have been heavily involved in the Pride of Durant marching band and Girl Scouts throughout high school. I plan to go to OU’s college of journalism and study professional writing to hopefully become a published author.”
