News Releases
Spencer VanEtten Wins Round Two
By Dennis Lantz
CQ Services
Sun, 13 Feb 2005 3:00 AM
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| Members from the Spencer VanEtten Panthers prepare for the day's competition. They went on to become the second team to qualify for the Scholarship Challenge Finals on April 2nd, joining Montrose. (CQ Photo/ Dennis Lantz) |
When the day was over, the high school quiz team from Spencer VanEtten remained undefeated and earned the right to the April 2nd finals.
Teams from Waverly, Spencer VanEtten, Owego Free Academy, Maine-Endwell and Susquehanna came to compete and as usual, they came well prepared. A team from Edison was originally scheduled to attend, but could not due to a leave of absence taken by their advisor.
The host Waverly Wolverines, the 2002 winner of the Kwasnoski Cup, faced off immediately with last year’s champion Maine-Endwell Spartans.
The Wolverines, coached by Michelle Shaw and Ann Phinney-Foreman included Alex Histed, Sara Tanner, David Sprowls and Courtney Stevens.
Alice Caroompas coached the Spartans with Katie Wolf, Ryan Joyce, Chelsea Reynolds and Sara Truex.
As those familiar with the team trivia competition are aware, the questions covered a wide range of topics. With the opening question “What was the original name of the November 11th holiday now called Veteran’s Day?” the day’s contest began.
Waverly’s Alex Histed answered correctly with ‘Armistice Day’ and the Wolverines had a 10-point edge.
After some tough questions, the first round of ten questions finished with Maine-Endwell up by a score of 30 to zero.
What is a four-word phrase meaning ‘old’ that was originally used for horses when their gums began to recede? The answer… ‘long in the tooth.’
Groups of elephants, cows and bison are called herds… which group of noisy birds is called a murder? The answer… crows.
The second round of the initial match-up found Waverly making a strong comeback. After 20 questions, the Wolverines had a slight 50 to 40 edge.
The capitol of Israel is now Jerusalem… prior to the Six-Day War, what was it? The answer… Tel Aviv.
What U.S. state capitol is named after a German statesman? The answer…Bismarck, North Dakota.
The third and final round – where correct answers are worth 20 points - went the way of the host team. When it was over, Waverly had defeated Maine-Endwell 140 to 10.
The next two teams to take the stage for the Challenge were the Owego Free Academy Indians and the Spencer VanEtten Panthers.
Owego Free Academy, coached by Stephanie Mills had Michelle Houseworth, Cassie Howard, Kerri Lavender and Jon King.
The Spencer VanEtten team consisted of Sarah Harrison, Anne Blauvelt, Chris Powers and Melody King. Their alternate, Jordan Carr, participated in a later match. Daniel Hundycz coaches the Panthers, as he has done for the past 17 years.
The Panthers got out to an early lead and never looked back. At the end of the first round it was 30 to 10 in their favor.
Second only to Thomas Edison in the number of inventions patented, who was the inventor of the Polaroid camera? The answer… Edwin Land.
Touted as the most likely player to break Hank Aaron’s home run record, who is the player who has been plagued by injury ever since leaving Seattle for Cincinnati? The answer… Ken Griffey Jr.
When initially started, what did ESPN stand for? The answer… Entertainment and Sports Programming Network.
Spencer VanEtten held a 50 to zero lead at the end of the second round.
In 1940, how many players were on a side for a girls’ high school basketball game? The answer… six. (Three on offense and three on defense.)
The Panthers finished up their first competition with an 80 to 20 victory.
The next match featured the Susquehanna Valley Sabres and the Waverly Wolverines.
The team from Susquehanna Valley, coached by Debbie Merrill consisted of Evan Stark, Caitlin Cox, Mark Bedrin and Jamilyn Polleto.
Tough questions had both teams down for the first round. When it was finished, Susquehanna Valley had a 10 to minus-20 lead over the host team.
CNN was the first 24-hour cable news network and was the brain-child of what media mogul? The answer… Ted Turner.
The first difficulty of the day came with an audio mix-up on the first question of the second round. But after the twentieth question of the competition, Susquehanna Valley still had a slight lead of zero to minus-10.
The third round was tight… and when the 30th question was read, the two teams were tied at 20.
The first tiebreaker of the year was set to begin. For tiebreakers, the teams go off the stage. A question is read and they have 45 seconds to confer with each other and write their answer on a card. The captains of the teams take the answers to host Chuck Carver, General Manager of Choice Radio. The first team to answer correctly when the other team does not is the winner.
It took four tiebreaker questions before Waverly was declared the winner.
Chuck asked, “What am I describing? A ridge of high ground that runs north and south through the Rocky Mountains that separates eastward from westward flowing streams…” The answer… the Continental Divide.
The final match-up of the afternoon was between Waverly and Spencer VanEtten. Both were guaranteed to win money, but only one would move on to the finals in April.
Waverly took the early lead and after ten questions for a 30 to 10 advantage.
What show was first promoted as a female driven comedy, but then offered as a Sunday Night soap opera? The answer… Desperate Housewives.
A cheetah can run up to 70 miles per hour for short distances. What bird can swim under water at 15 miles per hour? The answer… penguins.
Spencer VanEtten tied the match early in the second round and pulled ahead quickly by answering the first three questions. At the finish of the second round, the it was the Panthers holding a 60 to 20 advantage.
Saddam Hussein was the dictator of Iraq. King Hussein ruled what mid-eastern nation until his death? The answer… Jordan.
New York is called the Big Apple. Chicago is called the Windy City. What is the fifth largest city in the U.S. often called? The answer… The City of Brotherly Love (Philadelphia).
The Panthers went on to win the match by a score of 120 to 70. They join the team from Montrose and will go to the Scholarship Challenge finals on April 2nd for an opportunity to win the Kwasnoski Cup and $2000 for their school.
Waverly won $350 for their second place finish on the day.
“These are an enjoyable group of kids to work with,” said Spencer VanEtten advisor Daniel Hundycz. “It’s about having fun. We enjoy the practice. We have a good time with it.”
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| The Waverly Wolverines lost out on their chance to advance to the finals of the Scholarship Challenge, but won $350 for their school by placing second on Saturday. (CQ Photo) |
Round Three - Feb. 26
Blue Ridge, Towanda, Wyalusing, Northeast Bradford, North Penn and Sayre.
Round Four - March 12
Tioga, Elmira Southside, Notre Dame, Mansfield, Elmira Free Academy and Dryden.
Finals: The finals will be held on April 2, 2005.
The Kwasnoski Cup:
The cup is named in memory of the late Dan Kwasnoski, who served as captain of the 1984 Athens Scholarship Challenge Team. Dan's family annually presents the traveling trophy to the captain of the winning team, in loving tribute to his memory.
Past winners of the Kwasnoski Cup are:
Elmira Free Academy:
1999-1996- 1990-1983
Sullivan County:
1998-1993
Athens:
2001-1997-1994
Maine Endwell:
1995, 2004
Tioga Central:
1992-1987-1982-1981
Towanda:
1991-1988-1984
Wyalusing:
1989
Horseheads:
1986-1985-2000-2003
Waverly:
2002
Prize Money:
1st Place: $2000
2nd Place: $1000
3rd & 4th Place: $500
5th-8th Place: $350
Waverly Jr. – Sr. High School:
The Waverly Jr. – Sr. High School is located at 1 Frederick Street, in the Village of Waverly. The entrance is in the middle of the building facing the parking lot. The Challenge will take place in the auditorium... which is straight ahead and to your right after you enter the building.
DIRECTIONS: From Chemung Street Waverly, (Rt.17C) turn north on Ball Street (at the former Sugar Creek Convenience Store) and follow Ball St. until it dead ends into the high school.
To Reach Chemung Street: From Route 17/I-86: Take exit 61, turn left onto Cayuta Ave. Follow Cayuta (North) under the underpass, straight through the stop sign to the blinker light. Turn left onto Chemung Street/Rt.17C (See Above)
From Route 220: Follow 220 as far north as it goes, to a "T" in Waverly just after you cross over Route 17/I-86. Turn right onto Chemung Street/Rt.17C. (See Above)
For more information contact WATS/WAVR at 204 Desmond St. Sayre, PA 18840. Phone – (570) 888-7745
Used by permission from CQ Services, Inc.
