The CHS Sports Marketing class is coordinating a March Madness Bracket Challenge at CHS. With 10 staff members and 25 student entries, the contest is off to a fun start!
In the CBSSports bracket challenge, all high school students and staff were invited to compete. For every correct first-round selection, contestants get 1 point; for every correct second-round selection, they receive 2 points. Points double in each round.
The Sports Marketing class, taught by business teacher Michael Loomis, has been working on writing a news article or a blog post on the contest results thus far. Below is an article by junior Gabe Bennett.
Throughout the March Madness contest, teachers have attempted to show their students they have the basketball knowledge to come out on top. From the start, students have questioned if teachers have what it takes. Chatham faculty have put in the work to fill out their brackets, but students aren’t willing to lose. Who will become the most successful: students or their teachers?
The current battle taking place between the Chatham students and faculty involves two factors, accuracy and numbers. Each side holds an advantage, as teachers have accuracy, and students hold the numbers. With more experience, teachers can rely on their ability to craft a more accurate bracket than the students, leading to a bracket with more points. On the other hand, students have the numbers. The population of students absolutely crushes the number of teachers, which means they have the high ground here. More students equals more brackets completed, and the more brackets created means a greater chance at perfection. Although no bracket is perfect, the students have the ability to come closer than that of the teachers.
First, students appear to hold an early edge on the teachers. Faculty members such as John Brantley, who is in fifth place, and John Thorsen, who is in sixth, are already high on the leaderboard. When considering overall accuracy between these two groups, we must account for numbers. The students are more likely to succeed as they have more people. More people means more brackets, therefore the teachers must rely on their accuracy and experience to gain points. These abilities give the faculty an edge the students don’t have, so it will come down to these deciding factors.
Second, the students are certainly sitting on top. They may have taken an early leap on the faculty, but for how long? Students such as Cam Elcox, Renn Nelson, Lennie Sitzer, and Addison Andrews have proven their strength within this tournament. Two faculty members sit directly behind them in these rankings at fifth and sixth, so it ultimately comes down to the students’ power of numbers to secure their victory. The faculty must depend on overall experience and accuracy, if they want to have a shot at overcoming the immense student population.
Between these two competitors, I believe the students will maintain their current lead to eventually pull off the victory. In the end, I don’t believe experience and accuracy will hold enough power for the faculty. It will help them maintain a steady top-five place, but in the end, a student will reign champion. The students have a larger population, leading to higher success bracket possibilities. Both of these factors support an equally tough competition, yet the only question remaining is, “Which team will hold the trophy for Chatham?”
- Gabe Bennett, Sports Marketing Student