Teams from Free State High and Lawrence High were two of 16 teams that advanced to televised finals during an academic competition Dec. 4 at Washburn University.

Other area schools competing in the High Q contest were Baldwin High, Perry-Lecompton High and Tonganoxie High. Free State also earned first place among 6A schools. Perry-Lecomption earned third place in 3A schools.

Teams from around the state competed against one another by answering questions on topics including art, literature, history, math and science. The competition is sponsored by WIBW TV-13 and Washburn University.

The top 16 teams advanced to the finals and return to Topeka several times for taping sessions. The televised High Q competition will air on the station from late January to early May.

Team members were:

• Baldwin High: Ellen Schroer, senior, daughter of Grace Schroer and Jim Schultze; Jason Mock, senior, son of Dianna Mock; Lynne Lammers, junior, daughter of Jana Jorn; Will Sharp, senior, son of Glen and Pamela Sharp; Marianne Schroer, freshman, daughter of Grace Schroer and Jim Schultze; coach is Carl Brooks.
• Lawrence Free State: Austin Rivera, senior, son of Isidro and Cynthia Rivera; Yuan Liu, senior, daughter of Deshui and Yanrong Liu; Bill Berkowitz, senior, son of David and Katherine Berkowitz; Marie Hull, senior, daughter of Rob and Marilyn Hull; Alan Sneegas, senior, son of Stanley and Barbara Sneegas; coach is Oather Strawderman.
• Lawrence High School: Nate Wells, senior, son of Kim and Bonnie Wells; Babu Telikepalli, senior, son of Arunasri Telikepalli; Rahul Gogineni, senior, son of Suseela and Prasad Gogineni; Jordan Crice, junior, daughter of Tom Crice and Connie Adams; Matthew Charles Rytting, junior, son of J. Howard and Barbara Kay Rytting; coaches are Art Sloan and Janette Michaels.
• Perry-Lecompton High School: Brian William Beatty, junior, son of Theresa and Mark Beatty; John Robert Sweeney, junior, son of Rhonda and Michael Sweeney; Jonathan Charles Varner, junior, son of Dan and Neva Varner; Gregory Walton Gantz, senior, son of Fred and Sandy Gantz; coach is Erin Wolfram.
• Tonganoxie High: Spencer Semen, junior, son of Mark and Pat Seman; Garrett Kelly, junior, son of Michael and Katyn Kelly; Austin Young, junior, son of Bob and Carolyn Young; Colten Coffin, junior, son of Kim and Larry Dean Coffin.