Ally Otte, a dedicated member of the Beloit Scholars’ Bowl team since her freshman year, has stepped into the role of co-captain this year. “It made the most sense for Vanessa (Strathman) and me to become co-captains,” Otte shared. “We are both the longest-standing members of the team. We’ve both been in it since freshman year. Not one of us wanted to be captain, so we both decided to be co-captains. Mrs. (Aimee) Buckland was okay with that!” 

Otte’s vision for the year is all about effort and success. “Our vision is for us to do our very best and try to win some meets!” she said. 

She’s especially excited about the experiences that come with traveling and bonding as a team. “I am most excited for our car rides to and from places,” she shared. “We have a pretty set varsity team, and it’s always fun to go with them. I am excited for us to have a JV team, too! This will give Beloit more opportunities to attend different meets!” 

When it comes to leadership, Otte values confidence and respect. “Confidence and being respectful are two essential qualities as a leader,” she explained. “Having confidence makes you more approachable and, overall, a better leader. Being respectful makes you more empathetic and lets people know that you are a friendly person.” 

For Otte, Scholars Bowl is more than just a club; it’s an academic challenge that brings students together in competition. “Scholars Bowl is a competition where you answer questions in specific categories like math, science, literature, world languages, miscellaneous, and year-end review,” she said. “It’s a test of your knowledge, a type of competition!”