Strath Haven High School shocked the crowd by seizing victory at the 77th Delco Hi-Q Championship — their first title since 2005. The high-stakes showdown, hosted by Marple Newtown High School, featured fierce competition between three top-tier teams: Marple Newtown, Delaware County Christian School (DCCS), and Strath Haven.
Marple Newtown, having scored the highest during the regular season, earned a direct spot in the championship. DCCS, a steadfast competitor and reigning champion from 2024, maintained their streak as finalists for the third consecutive year by winning a Semi Final Contest. Strath Haven was a stand-out competitor this year – winning all of their contests and earning the season’s high score of 62. Their journey to the championship was hard-fought, having secured their spot after a thrilling semifinal victory.
The Championship Contest began with steady performances across the board. By the halfway mark, two clear frontrunners emerged: Marple Newtown with 30 points and Strath Haven close behind with 27. The second half was a nail-biter, with both teams jockeying for the lead. When the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard read 50 for Marple Newtown, 30 for DCCS, and 45 for Strath Haven.
The final question — a high-stakes math toss-up — left the crowd assuming Marple Newtown had clinched the title. But the determined expressions on Strath Haven’s team signaled that the contest wasn’t over yet. Following a meticulous appeals process, Strath Haven successfully challenged the scoring on a synonymous answer, earning enough points to tie the score, triggering a tiebreaker.
While tiebreakers are rare in Delco Hi-Q history, the process consisted of two rounds of six questions, covering American Government, American History, Geography, Literature, Physics, and Shakespeare. After the first round, the score remained deadlocked. Then came the decisive moment — a challenging Shakespeare question that finally tipped the scales in Strath Haven’s favor. The team earned the single point needed to secure their long-awaited victory. The final tiebreaker score stood at 6-5.
The audience erupted as Strath Haven’s team leapt from their seats in celebration — a jubilant moment marking their first championship win in two decades. Though disappointment was evident among Marple Newtown’s team, their sportsmanship and resolve were commendable, reflecting the spirit of Delco Hi-Q.
Following the thrilling conclusion, representatives from the Henderson Foundation, Steve Buxton, Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union, CEO, Mike Magnavita, and DCIU, Dr. Joyce Mundy, presented the prestigious Donna Zerby Trophy to Strath Haven. Alongside the trophy, the FMFCU Foundation awarded $3,000 to Strath Haven High School. Marple Newtown received $2,500 for their second-place finish, and Delaware County Christian School was awarded $2,000.
With their victory, Strath Haven advances to the National Hi-Q Championship, which will be held virtually via Zoom on Friday, April 4th. The team now prepares to represent Delaware County on the national stage, hoping to carry their momentum forward.
Congratulations to Strath Haven High School for their hard-fought and well-earned championship title, and to all teams for an extraordinary season of academic competition. The 77th Delco Hi-Q Championship will be remembered not only for its historic tiebreaker but for the resilience, teamwork, and brilliance displayed by every student who took part.
Delco Hi-Q is the oldest, continuous academic quiz competition in the United States, bringing together Delaware County high schools to compete in a series of intellectual challenges. The competition encourages academic excellence, teamwork, and community pride through exciting and dynamic contests.
Delco Hi-Q is a partnership between Delaware County Intermediate Unit (DCIU) and FMFCU Foundation. FMFCU Vice President Rick Durante serves as Executive Director and Quizmaster,
FMFCU Assistant Vice President Danielle Griffin as Hi-Q Assistant Director, and DCIU’s Dave Bramble as the production engineer. In addition to support from participating schools, Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union and the Wilbur C. and Betty Lea Henderson Foundation are the primary corporate sponsors. Additional support comes from longtime sponsors Kimberly-Clark Corporation and the Delaware County Daily Times.
