The Skyview Academic Teams came into existence in the fall of 1991 when physics teacher, Rich McFate accepted the invitation to form a science bowl team to compete in the Big Sky Regional Science Bowl in early 1992. After competing in the first two science bowls in 92 and 93 it was agreed upon by the members that it was a whole lot of practice for just one competition. Since that time the Academic Team broadened its search for academic competitions to host and to play in.
Online competitions were the simple first choice with the Knowledge Master Open, Academic Quest, QuizNet and 321. Presently the Fall and Spring 321 Competitions through Questions Unlimited is the only online competition that we are currently participating in. Several statewide televised competitions came and went such as the Montana Academic Challenge and Brain Busters.
Skyview has hosted the Yellowstone Academic Tournament, now up to 36 teams, since 1999 and has participated in the Southwest Montana Academic Olympics since 2001. Other competitions we currently or have competed at are the Regional History Bowl and Bee, Fall and Spring versions of the Frenchtown Academic Challenge Tournament, Academic Olympics , Academic WorldQuest, and the Jordan Carlson Memorial Academic Tournament. Nationally Skyview has competed at the Panasonic Academic Challenge, National Academic Championships, National Science Bowl, National History Bowl, National Tournament of Academic Excellence and National Academic WorldQuest. We have placed 10th, 8th, 7th, and 4th at the national level.
In 2011, Frenchtown coach Merle Johnston and Coach McFate created the first Montana Academic State Championship. It is held at the the University of Montana each April. The same year, John Tate from Riverside H.S. Wyoming and Coach McFate established the Montana vs Wyoming Academic All-Star Challenge featuring the top six student from each state in a series of five head to head matches. This prestigious academic event alternates between Sheridan Wyoming and Billings Montana each June. During the Montana Academic State Championship a individual competition is held in a format to similar to the History Bee to award scholarships to the top eight students and to select the six players on the Montana Academic All-Star team.