The Lafayette County Scholar Bowl team has ten matches ahead of them Saturday, April 26 at the Small School National Championship Tournament in Chicago.

The Huskers have made their second trip to the national tournament, joining 14 other teams from Missouri and 154 total teams from around the nation. Sophomore Harper Hayes is the team’s co-captain and says the team’s bonded throughout the season, which she says has helped them prepare for this weekend.

Hayes highlights the strengths of her teammates.

Hayes credits her coaches Christa Bell and Eric King for encouraging her and her teammates to improve. It’s shown this season for Lafayette County, as the Huskers finished second to Center in the MRVC. They also went 7-2 at the Roadrunner Scholastic Tournament hosted at State Fair Community College, only dropping matches to Jefferson City and Weaubleau, who finished in the top three. Hayes also credits her dad Josh, who coaches the team at Santa Fe.

Lafayette County’s schedule Saturday includes a clash with fellow Missourians Skyline, who are still in the running for the Class Three state title, and Glasgow, Ky., a program who has won four small school national titles.  Six wins are required to advance to Sunday’s double-elimination playoffs.