A jubilant team from CedarBridge Academy returned to school yesterday as back-to-back champions following a second win at the annual Quiz Contest for Schools.

The team of Marlene Correia, Hannah Collins, Taylor Heron, Jakia Lewis and captain Shakeela Smith were congratulated by their peers and their teachers alike after they solidly defeated their competition Saturday night at the 17th annual event.

The team was coached to victory by Shernette Wolffe and Marie Stone and three reserves supported the core participants - Brenda June Millett, Amy DaPonte and Zemane Lottimore.

CedarBridge's winners emerged a full 25 points ahead of the second place finisher Mount Saint Agnes Academy. Clearwater Middle School took third place.

The second win in a row was a true vote of confidence for the Government senior school the team captain told The Royal Gazette.

"I think there was a common belief that the first time we won was a fluke," said Miss Smith. "Now that we've done it again, I think we will erase every doubt about us and the idea CedarBridge is a bad school.

"There are a lot of positives things at CedarBridge and I think we showed that Saturday night."

The team spent months cramming for the quiz Miss Smith added, but managed to combine fun with boning up on current events.

"We would hold sleepovers where we would study and cram for the questions," she said of the team's strategy.

They even invited girls from last year's winning squad to join them at the sleepover for advice and moral support.

For the first time in quiz history, four members of a single team received perfect scores with Miss Smith, Miss Lewis, Miss Correia and Miss Collins all earning trivia perfection.

"It was a true team effort," said Miss Smith.

Devin McCallum from Mount Saint Agnes also earned a perfect score.

The contestants answer questions on history, music, arts, personalities, sports and current events.

Miss Smith said the semi-finals were more nerve-wracking than the finals for her team as it was the first time they were called upon to answer questions in a quick-witted manner before hundreds of onlookers.

"We were more nervous Thursday," she said. "Saturday, I think we were more calm."

Miss Smith explained that an age limit for the quiz prevents the same contestants returning for a second year but CedarBridge has now firmly established its winning tradition.