|Photo by Joselyn King| Members of Sherrard Middle School "Team 2" show the West Virginia History Bowl championship cup they won at the state tournament on April 30. Pictured from left are Chase Fromhart, Conner Fromhart, Chloe Pickett, and Emily Gatts.

WHEELING – Sherrard Middle School has won its third consecutive West Virginia History Bowl, and its fourth in the last five years.

A team from the school again came out on top at the state championships when the state History Bowl took place April 30 at the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston.

Each student on Sherrard “Team 2” received a trophy and $500 for their achievement. Team member Emily Gatts – the daughter of social studies teacher and coach Dan Gatts – was named the tournament’s “most valuable player” and took home an additional $300.

In addition to Emily Gatts, others on the four-member team included twins Chase and Connor Fromhardt and Chloe Pickett. In addition, the same group was part of the school’s “Rubber Duckies” robotics team, which Dan Gatts also assists in coaching.

The “Rubber Duckies” took home the “Think Award” at this year’s West Virginia Robotics Championship.

“This group has been together a lot this year – and with me, as well,” Dan Gatts said.

He has guided a record-setting seven History Bowl teams to the state crown – with four of those at Sherrard. Before becoming a teacher at Sherrard Middle School, he previously led the Cameron High School History Bowl teams to state victories in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

Gatts’ Sherrard Middle School teams have collected state trophies in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024. They finished in second place in 2021. He noted practice and selecting the best students each year to be on the team are keys to the team’s yearly success.

Gatts explained he recruits students from his social studies classes he believes will have the drive to learn and compete in the History Bowl. He also looks for those with parents who will “drive them as hard as I do.”

He didn’t have to look far to find one team member.

“My dad is a social studies teacher and the History Bowl coach,” Emily Gatts explained. “My older sister did it when she was in eighth grade, and I wanted to try out.”

Pickett said her favorite class subject is history, and she was anxious to participate on the West Virginia History Bowl team.

“I really wanted to be a part, learn more and share that knowledge about the state with others,” she continued. “It’s fascinating to know that West Virginia started out as part of Virginia, and how we came into this current society.

“I just like learning where we started, and how we got to where we are now.”

Connor Fromhardt said social studies is his favorite school subject.

“I think it’s cool learning about West Virginia because it’s where we are from,” he explained. “West Virginia is where we live.”

Chase Fromhardt also likes social studies and participating in the social studies fair, and he admits there is a lot of studying involved for the History Bowl.

“Mr. Gatts is always making sure we are doing what we are supposed to be doing,” he added.

The team members studied their West Virginia history questions four times a day,, according to Emily Gatts.

“Occasionally, we study during lunch, and during homeroom,” she said. “Then we study during social studies class, and after school.”

Dan Gatts acknowledged the amount of practice is probably what sets Sherrard’s History Bowl teams apart from the others.

“They put a lot of time into it, and they’re great kids,” he said. “This is a very active group. They are all involved in two or three activities outside robotics and History Bowl. The biggest challenge is finding time to get them together.”