Joel Baldwin, captain of West Valley High School’s Knowledge Bowl varsity team, likes the Bond questions best.

That’s right, James Bond questions. They don’t come up often, Baldwin says. But all questions are fair when it comes to Knowledge Bowl. Even questions about car parts.

West Valley’s varsity team goes to regional competition next week with the confidence that comes from being first-ranked among 15 local high schools.

Here’s the question that won West Valley the local championship: “What is a three-syllable term for recapitulation of evidence presented by a lawyer just before the case is sent to the jury?” Answer: summation.

The varsity team includes Tim Fackenthall, Alan Leong, Jason Sullivan and Josh McClintock. Junior varsity members are Brian Boothe, Ben Brattebo, John Davis, Adam Mortensen, Bart Mortensen, Chris Nesbitt and Becky Lorang.

The teams meet for practice sessions at 6:30 a.m., Monday through Friday. Retired teacher and Knowledge Bowl advisor Ken Moore says that’s the only time everyone has free.

Baldwin, the team captain, started with Knowledge Bowl as a freshman. He was something of a captive audience.

“My sister did it when she was a senior and that was the only way I had to get to school,” said the senior.

Perhaps not the only way, but Baldwin’s choice was a five-minute ride with his sister, or half an hour on the school bus.

It takes fast recall to be good at Knowledge Bowl. Or, as Baldwin put it, “You have to be able to remember lots of useless facts. Like, things about former presidents.”

Varsity member Leong said it helps to take advanced placement classes.

“They’re not watered down like regular classes,” Leong said.

If West Valley does well against the 36 schools at regional competition, the team will go on to state, later this month. Then, possibly nationals. All thanks to those 6:30 a.m. practices.

, DataTimes