By Leah Schwarting

NATCHEZ — When the statewide 4-H Citizenship Bowl ended, the Adams County team had taken second place.

That was a big achievement, especially since the May 28 competition at Mississippi State University was the first time the team had competed.

“There were at least six other teams in that particular competition, so it was great for them to get that,” said Angela Brooks, the team’s coach and NHS Spanish teacher.

After studying U.S. history, government, 4-H trivia and citizenship requirements, Candi Ware, 15, Kerrica Dunmore, 17, Carvontae Minor, 16, and Manuel Bonds, 17, got ready to go to Starkville. Angel Brooks, Angela’s 19-year-old daughter, was the designated alternate.

When May 28 rolled around Ware, Dunmore, Minor and Angel arrived at MSU with Angela. But they soon realized that Bonds wouldn’t be able to make it the trip.

The team was called in to compete, and Angel stepped in.

At first Ware, the team captain, wasn’t sure how far they’d make it.

“I thought we were going to lose at first,” Ware said.

However, the team kept advancing. Even technical difficulties couldn’t stop them. During one round, the buzzer on their table stopped working.

Other contestants had the same problem, and everyone was frantic to get back in the game.

“They were hitting the table at one time,” Angela said.

But during toss-up questions, it was Ware’s responsibility as team captain to buzz in that stuck in Minor’s mind.

“My favorite part was making it to the end and seeing how she was hitting the buzzer like crazy,” Minor said.

Like Minor, Ware, Dunmore and Brooks all loved making it to the end.

The team plans to return next year, all except Angel, who will be too old to compete.

It’s been the plan ever since they left the conference.

“They’ve already started planning for next year,” Angela said, “They want to come in first now that they’ve seen what the competition is like.”

All other team members are students at Natchez High School.

Dunmore will be a senior next school year and is the daughter of Annie and Kerry Dunmore.

Minor is going to be a junior next school year and is the son of Octavia Battiste and Candell Minor.

Bonds is will be a senior and is the son of Angela Washington and Manuel Bonds Sr.

Ware will be a junior. She is the daughter of La’Quanda Lewis and Michael Ware.

Angel is a sophomore at Alcorn State University and is the daughter of Angela and Ronnie Brooks Sr.