February 03, 2026
Cowley College Quiz Bowl Earns First Place at NAQT Sectionals Securing National Championship Bid
The Cowley College Collegiate Quiz Bowl team delivered an outstanding performance at the National Academic Quiz Tournaments (NAQT) Sectional Championship, earning first place and securing an automatic invitation to the 2026 NAQT Community College Championship Tournament (CCCT).
The Cowley A Team (Eli Hubble, Captain Rawson Ray, Jimmy Ball, and Hannah Watts) opened the tournament with a strong start, winning the first six rounds of competition. In Round 7, the team faced Garden City A in a closely contested match, falling 275–225 on the final question, after a head-to-head race of speed between two of the tournament’s top math students. Cowley rebounded with victories in Rounds 8 and 9, then learned they were in a three-way tie with Garden City A and Johnson County.
Tournament standings were determined by points per 20 tossups heard, giving Cowley A the advantage. As a result, Cowley advanced directly to the final match, while Johnson and Garden City A competed for the right to face the Tigers. Cowley A met Garden City A for a second time in the championship match and claimed a decisive 385–140 victory to secure first place.
By winning the sectional tournament, Cowley College earned an automatic berth to the 2026 NAQT Community College Championship Tournament, which will be held February 27–28, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, Illinois.
Following the sectional results, Cowley College enters the national tournament ranked 10th among community colleges nationwide—the highest ranking in program history. The team’s goal is to compete as a top-eight contender at the national level. Earlier this season, Cowley competed in Redlands, Oklahoma, against highly ranked teams from Murray State and Redlands Community College, helping prepare the Tigers for elite-level competition. Only the top 24 teams in the nation qualify for the championship, with Garden City A and Johnson County currently ranked 14th and 15th, respectively, as the only other Kansas programs in the top 24.
Cowley’s B Team also represented the college well, finishing tied for seventh with a 2–7 record in a 10-team field. Team members Isabella Loomis, Andrew Allen, and Denny Insaly demonstrated strong performances throughout the tournament. In Round 3, Cowley B faced Cowley A, highlighted by Insaly answering the opening toss-up and briefly giving his team the early lead. The team also recorded impressive victories over Independence (90–0) and Allen County (105–35).
Individually, Andrew Allen placed 14th, Denny Insaly 17th, and Isabella Loomis 24th among 36 competitors. Allen and Insaly each answered 11 toss-up questions, earning multiple bonus opportunities for their team.
Mark Flickinger served as moderator for all nine rounds of competition, with each round featuring 20–24 questions played in two 13-minute halves.
The sectional tournament proved to be an exciting and rewarding experience for Cowley College. The Tigers demonstrated strong teamwork, academic preparation, and composure under pressure throughout the day.
“Cowley College is well represented by a great group of students who interact well and know how to maintain their focus during stressful rounds,” said Dianne Flickinger, Team Sponsor. “This was truly our best possible outcome.”
With a sectional championship and national bid secured, the Cowley College Quiz Bowl team now turns its attention to preparing for competition against the nation’s top community college programs in Chicago later this month.
Hunter Ferguson | Integrated Communications Specialist
Cowley College
125 S. 2nd Street
Arkansas City, KS 67005
hunter.ferguson@cowley.edu