Honda All-Star team advances to nationals

The Winston-Salem State Honda team traveled to Morris College in Sumter, S.C. on Feb. 21 for the Honda Campus All-Star tournament regional, finishing with a 4-3 record and advancing to the national competition.

WSSU's team beat Fayetteville State, Voorhees College, Claflin University and St. Augustine College.

"The experience was wonderful, and I hope that we can use it in our preparations for the national competition," said Sharrod Patterson a senior history major from Gastonia, N.C.

Patterson is the team captain.

"Unfortunately, we could not pull out the victory, but we learned a lot about ourselves and the competitors," Patterson said.

The Morris College Tournament served as a warm up for the National Championship Tournament, which will be in Orlando, March 26-30.

The Honda Campus All-Star Tournament is an annual event that consists of teams from 64 HBCUs around the country.

The academic competition tests student knowledge of pop culture, literature, science politics, current events, and a broad range of academic subjects.

Marilyn Roseboro, adviser to the club and team says she enjoys working with the team.

"The team has done very well over the years," Roseboro said.

"The team has made it to the Sweet 16 twice."

In the past competitions, the WSSU Honda team has won trophies, certificates, and cash awards of $3,000-$5,000.

Last year, Terri Day, a mass communications/English major from Charlotte was the top scorer in the division, becoming WSSU's first All-Star.

The team practices in the alumni house during the week.

They prepare for competitions by reading newspapers and magazines, watching television, listening to the radio, playing online HCASC games, and playing practice games with questions they develop and those provided by HCASC.

"If the students have an interest in traveling, making new friends and learning new things then they should definitely join the team," said senior psychology major Carlton Brunson.

This year's Honda team roster includes Sharrod Patterson (captain), Candace Kelly, Krista Brown, Carlton Brunson, Krashaunda Chadwick, James Cherry, Teddy Howell, Joshua Lockhart, and Travis McGhee.