MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury Union High School team turned in a strong performance at the Vermont-NEA Scholars’ Bowl state championships held Saturday, March 26, at the University of Vermont. The Tigers won five straight before finally losing a close match to Burlington in the final round.
Competing for Middlebury’s varsity team under Coach Perry Lessing were senior Elias Wyncoop and juniors Josh Bechhoefer, Dace Eaton, Henry Ganey and Ronan Howlett.
Coming into the day as the eighth seed, Middlebury needed to win a play-in tournament to even qualify for the final rounds. Beating Mount Abraham Union, North Country, and Essex high schools earned Middlebury the Medlar Cup and a berth in the finals.  The Tigers then scored upsets against Hanover and Mt. Mansfield to earn a shot at top-seeded Burlington (22-0 on the season).
Burlington built an early 145-point lead in the final match and fought off Middlebury’s last-round comeback to claim the title, 360-290.
In earlier competition that day, MUHS beat Mount Abraham Union High School, 555-155; North Country, 435-170; Essex, 440-235; Hanover, 310-255; and Mt. Mansfield, 360-315.