The 35th annual Academic Challenge Eighth Competition “The Kern Klassic” was held on March 10, 11 and 12 at Lehighton Middle School.

Teams of six students and up to two alternates from eight participating school competed in the meeting of the minds, testing their scholarly abilities.

Catasauqua, Jim Thorpe Area, Lehighton Area, Northern Lehigh, Northwestern Lehigh, Palmerton Area, Panther Valley and Tamaqua Area sent competitors.

Over the three days, 15 rounds were held to determine the winner in a double-elimination competition. Tamaqua Middle School captured first place by defeating Northern Lehigh in round 15 after both teams had acquired one loss.

Scores were as follows:

Round 1: Lehighton (19) vs Northwestern Lehigh (34).

Round 2: Northern Lehigh (49) vs Catasauqua (19).

Round 3: Palmerton vs Jim Thorpe. This round was a tie 24-24 and went into overtime. The first team to score 3 points advanced. Jim Thorpe advanced to Round 6.

Round 4: Tamaqua (45) vs Panther Valley (15).

Round 5: Northwestern Lehigh (21) vs Northern Lehigh (31).

Round 6: Jim Thorpe (11) vs Tamaqua (26).

Round 7: Lehighton (34) vs Catasauqua (21).

Round 8: Palmerton (26) vs Panther Valley (28).

Round 9: Jim Thorpe (34) vs Lehighton (24).

Round 10: Northwestern Lehigh (23) vs Panther Valley (19).

Round 11: Northern Lehigh (43) vs Tamaqua (40).

Round 12: Jim Thorpe (21) vs Northwestern Lehigh (29).

Round 13: Tamaqua (34) vs Northwestern Lehigh (24).

Round 14: Northern Lehigh (35) vs Tamaqua (50).

Round 15: Northern Lehigh (31) vs Tamaqua (51).