Applied Exercise Science students take home top prize at national Quiz Bowl competition

A group of students in the University of New England’s Applied Exercise Science (AES) program recently took home the top prize at the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) National Conference annual Quiz Bowl competition.

Jon Chappel, Lindsay Rand Smith, and Kyle Poulin became the first team from New England to claim victory in the national tournament, held in Denver from May 30 to June 2, winning the competition with the correct answer “hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,” a condition where the heart muscle becomes thickened and harder to pump blood.

The win follows the team’s regional victory at the New England ACSM conference, held in October 2022 in Providence, Rhode Island. There, the group bested approximately 15 teams from other colleges and universities, for the second time, to advance to the national competition.

For their win in Denver, Chappel, Smith, and Poulin each received a voucher to complete an ACSM certification at no charge.  

“This national win speaks volumes on how well faculty in the Department Exercise and Sport Performance are preparing our students to enter the workforce or get accepted into graduate programs in the allied health field,” remarked Paul Visich, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Exercise and Sport Performance (ESP). “To Jon, Lindsay, and Kyle, thank you for representing the ESP department and the AES program. All of us are very proud of what you have accomplished.”