Springs FCCLA Team Wins It All in Knowledge Bowl
The Wessington Springs High School FCCLA Knowledge Bowl team has brought home a national title after an unforgettable week at the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) National Leadership Conference held in Orlando, Florida.
Competing against top students from across the country, the team of Sam Poncelow, Karter Mebius, Branden Flowers, Robert Hine, and Richard Cardona claimed first place in the FCCLA Knowledge Bowl, officially earning the title of National Champions.
Led by longtime FCCLA advisor and Family and Consumer Sciences teacher, Charlotte Mohling, the team entered the competition as underdogs — one of the last teams invited to compete nationally after their performance in earlier rounds.
“They were a team that wasn’t supposed to be there,” said Mohling. “But once they got in, they wanted to work.”
Out of 32 teams at the national level, each first took a written test worth 100 points. Scores from the test determined pool placement, where teams competed in three rounds. Combined scores from the test and preliminary rounds were used to rank the top 16 teams advancing to the Sweet 16. Wessington Springs entered the Sweet 16 as the No. 4 seed.
From there, the Springs team began their historic run: Sweet 16 - Defeated Brownsboro High School, Texas Quarterfinals - Took on longtime rival Clark High School, South Dakota — a team that had previously beaten them and had been national champions multiple times. Springs triumphed 115-55. Semifinals - Beat Bartlett, Texas, another powerhouse program Finals - Sealed the championship with a win over Calhan High School, Colorado “The team’s initial goal was to make the Sweet 16,” said Mohling. “But after they got there, Branden said, ‘Job’s not finished.’ At that point, I knew they wanted to go all the way.”
The FCCLA Knowledge Bowl challenges students across five key areas: personal finance, environmental science, consumer rights, technology, and health and safety — all closely tied to family and consumer sciences.
Competitions include buzzer rounds with bonus questions, followed by a 16-question team round where Wessington Springs excelled.
“They made most of their points in the team round,” Mohling explained. “They learned to trust their instincts.”
The group has a long history together, having first competed as 8th graders.
“It was a unique group, tight-knit, full of general knowledge and common sense,” Mohling said. “When they decided to study, they went to work. They were so well-behaved and gained the heart of everyone they met because of the fun they had together while competing.”
While the national title was the highlight, students also had the chance to experience all that the FCCLA National Conference had to offer, including general sessions, workshops, and a large exhibit hall.
Trading state pins became a favorite pastime, especially for Mercedes Jones and Kendall Kolousek, who tried to collect one from all 50 states.
Competing in STAR events at nationals, Jones finished silver in the Instructional Design video category and Kolousek earned gold in Career Investigations.
The group, along with chaperones Katie Jones and Liza Kolousek, also enjoyed several fun outings, including Universal Studios, an after-hours event at Sea World, and an evening at the Magic Kingdom — a first-time experience for all. They wrapped up their trip with a visit to Cocoa Beach on the Atlantic coast.
“You had seven students who understood the importance of developing leadership skills,” Mohling said. “When they went to work, they went to work — and it paid off.”