Owensboro Native Alec Phelps is set to participate in the Capital One college Bowl on Tuesday on NBC. The show, hosted by Peyton Manning, is a reboot of the classic show that first aired in the 1950s.
The 2019 graduate of Daviess County High School will represent the University of Alabama. He said his years of academic team training at Deer Park Elementary, College View Middle, and Daviess County High prepared him for success.
“I had great quiz bowl coaches who set me up for this opportunity,” Phelps said. “It’s an opportunity to show what you know and all that you’ve learned. In quick recall, fast trivia is an opportunity where it’s satisfying to be able to beat your opponent.”
Phelps, a double major in chemistry and finance at the University of Alabama, is a member of their quiz bowl team. When the head of his team sent them a message in November informing them of the opportunity to apply for a spot on the show, he decided to go for it.
“I filled out the application two hours before it was due on New Years. I got a phone call in February to interview, and the next thing I knew I was on a flight to LA,” Phelps said.
Participating schools include the University of Alabama, Auburn University, Columbia University, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Ole Miss, Morehouse College, University of Tennessee, University of Southern California, UCLA, University of Virginia, and Xavier of Louisiana.
According to NBC. com, “In each show, teams of three representing some of the nation’s top schools will battle it out in a bracketed tournament over four rounds. The top two schools advance to the final, where they compete head-to-head for the Capital One College Bowl trophy and a scholarship to put toward their education.”
Phelps thanked his high school academic team coach Ann Koshy for instilling in him a passion for quiz bowl.
“My senior year of high school, we won regionals against our rivals, Henderson County,” Phelps said. “Our coach Ms. Koshy said that this will be the best moment of our lives aside from the birth of our first child or our wedding day.”
Phelps said she was right so far.
“She was amazing. I’d like to thank her for continuing my love of quiz bowl and therefore bridging me into being on this show,” Phelps said
As far as what he enjoys most about the opportunity, Phelps said meeting Peyton Manning and his brother Cooper Manning who gave him a fist bump and made him feel welcome.
“You will want to tune in — it’s exciting, it’s fast-paced, it’s good television, and you won’t want to miss the first episode,” Phelps said.
