MONMOUTH, Ill. — After winning a tournament they hosted one week ago, top members of ThinkLab, Monmouth College’s quiz bowl team, headed to the Upper Midwest Regionals in Ames, Iowa, expecting to compete well against some of the best collegiate teams the Midwest has to offer.

Consider it “mission accomplished,” according to ThinkLab director Matt Katsenes, a senior from Frankfort.

Monmouth was one of five schools and 12 teams competing in the tournament, which was held on the campus of Iowa State University. Other competing schools were the University of Minnesota, Carleton College, Loyola University and Northwestern University.

“Despite those lofty names and the fact that – excluding our own tournament – we had won only one round in three competitions in team history, we held our own,” said Katsenes.

The team went 5-6 overall, recording wins over teams from Northwestern, Carleton and Iowa State. Freshman Savannah Dorsett of Pasadena, Texas, continues to lead Monmouth. Out of 41 competitors, she ranked 10th in points per game (32.3) and only missed three questions out of 40, tying her for the lowest total in the Top Ten.

“She continues to make her impression on everyone,” said Katsenes, who did not participate. Other competitors at the tournament included senior Brian Walgren of Batavia, junior Garrett Balbach of Lena and freshman Richard Harrod of Annapolis, Md.

Along with MC’s speech and debate team, ThinkLab will host a high school speech and quiz bowl tournament Nov. 15. Nearly 100 students from schools throughout the state are expected to attend the inaugural “Brain Games” tournament on the MC campus.

“We’ve been preparing for and are looking forward to an excellent tournament,” said freshman Michelle Anstett of Peoria, who is directing the speech portion of the tournament.