TWINS Shane and Shawn Batchelor, 17; Dwayne Goode, 17 and captain Don Dobson, 18 - all members of Calabar High school's challenge quiz team, prayed for success over Clarendon College and their prayers were answered last night. The Red Hills Road boys whipped Clarendon College 29 to 11 advancing to the finals to be held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, next week Wednesday night.
Fans of Calabar celebrated by waving the popular green and black flag high in the studios of TVJ.
Dwayne Goode, captain of Calabar's team said: "We played a decent match remembering the four C's- cool, calm, collective and composed."
Calabar's coaches, Paul Watson and Mark McFarlane said they were expecting a closer match. "Our team was impressive in the buzzer section. I knew we won the match after we began to lead in the first section. We are expecting an exciting finals," Watson said.
The Clarendon team of Felecia Gray, 18; John Biggs, 17; Krishna Bassaragh, 17 and Carlene Plummer, 15, felt it was a good match.
The match provided few surprises to anyone after Calabar's 8-4 lead over Clarendon at the end of Section One.
Clarendon played a guessing game answering at least four straight questions incorrectly.
Tonight's match will see the second semi-final match between K.C and Glenmuir High.
Profiles
Don Dobson
JUST looking at Don Dobson, 18, a member of Calabar's School Challenge Quiz team, would remind you of Clive Dobson, National Workers Union president.
Don and Clive are distant relatives.
But Don hardly ever talks about this link. Instead, it is his school's chance of winning the schools challenge trophy. "We will do well because the Lord will reward us," he said.
Don is considered one of the hot shots on Calabar's team. He played on the Mona High quiz team before joining Calabar. He also has a distiguished academic record both here and abroad where he lived for some time.
Don's favourite food is chicken. His hobby is watching football and his favourite subjects are History and Geography.
His wish for Jamaica is, "That the country will fulfill its potential and let it be a peaceful place to live."
Shane Batchelor
ASK Shane Batchelor, executive prefect, how he feels about Calabar's chances of winning this years competition and he will say, "the Lord knows we deserve it."
Devoted to Christian principles, Shane, an upper sixth former with 8 CXC passes along with additional mathematics, says Calabar's family has always put God first in all their doings.
The quiz he said, "gives me a better outlook on life and more knowledge."
Shane an avid reader has always been considered bright by teachers and his peers but has not given any real thought about making the schools challenge team until about four years ago. "I just followed a friend to one of the training matches. The coach gave me the capitals of countries to study and I knew these when I returned. The coach was impressed and thought I had the ability to make the team"
If Shane got the opportunity to lead this country he would be a dictator."We have tried democracy, it does not work. So if I am in command, this might sound selfish but Jamaicans would have to listen to the dictator rule or suffer the consequences," Shane said.
Shawn Batchelor
BY now everyone should know Calabar's Shawn Batchelor is the twin brother of fellow team member Shaun.
Shawn treasures his brother's company more now that they are on the same school challenge team.
Shawn says: "My twin brother and I are on C'Bar Schools Challenge team three years in a row.
I am supposed to answer all the literature questions and I think I am doing a good job with these."
His most memorable match was against Wolmers. "That one was very close but we came out the winner"
Shawn, an executive prefect, wants to be a neurosurgeon.
His favourite food is chicken, his favourite colours are green and black and his hobbies are playing table tennis, cricket and football.
Dwayne Goode
DWAYNE GOODE is only 17 years old, but he has attained eight CXC passes, and mathematics at advanced level. The upper sixth form student does not want anyone to consider him the "brainbox" on the team.
"The entire team is the brains" he told THE STAR.
Dwayne's parents may have known he would be interested in the field of electronics from he was a child. Whenever he (Dwayne) got his toys he would try to find out what they were made from.
Doing well in school was important to him. "I stu-died hard and was able to retain whatever I was told. I also did a lot of reading," he recalled.
Of all the matches to Dwayne the quarter-final game between Calabar and Manchester stands out.
Outside of class, Dwayne travels with a notebook to record important events which might be used in the schools challenge quiz.
His favourite food is chicken and his favourite colour blue.
Dwayne' advise to youths is work harder in school and his wish for Jamaica is that we will be a peaceful, pioneering country.
