De Soto High School offers many sports and activities for their students to participate in. One of the most successful programs at DHS is Scholars Bowl.

The DHS team has won the State championship the past two years and is looking to repeat again this year. Along with the several seniors on the championship team, there were also many juniors who contributed to the State title. These juniors are now seniors and will provide some varsity experience for new players.

The team is coached by Phillip Hamilton and Donna Rhodes, who are both English teachers at DHS.

“My expectations are that we are going to have a great year,” Hamilton said. “We have a number of new members and we are going to learn and grow together and do a great job.”

The team has practices every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 3:30 after school in Hamilton’s and Rhodes’ room. Practices consist of players answering both varsity and junior varsity questions on world language, social studies, language arts, math, science and health, fine arts and current events.

Many players are involved in fall sports and will not be able to attend practices until their season ends, but Hamilton still encourages students to join even if they can’t come to practice until November.

The players and coaches involved believe that Scholars Bowl is a great program that promotes learning and communication with teammates and is fun to participate in at the same time.

The team’s first varsity meet is at Bonner Springs High School on Oct. 16 and the first JV meet is Oct. 23 also at BSHS.