This program brought to you in part by the Erika Lewis Endowment Fund.

Coming up, it's Team Betancourt... [applause] ...taking on Team Krafve.

[applause] Yeah!

This is the Varsity Quiz Blue League All-Star Match!

[cheers and applause] ♪♪♪ (Nate Tannenbaum) Hi.

Welcome to the 54th season of Varsity Quiz .

We've got the best and the brightest high school students matching wits in this unique academic competition.

As we hope you know, there are now two Varsity Quiz leagues in each season's competition.

Tonight we're saluting the young men and women of the Blue League with this year's All-Star Match, featuring superstars from some of the 14 Blue League schools that competed throughout the year.

Students have been randomly assigned to the two teams.

This All-Star Match, a little bit different than our regular Varsity Quiz matches because we have four timed rounds of 20 questions if we get that far.

Each question in this lighthearted match is worth five points.

Let's meet our first-round players.

We will start with Team Betancourt and Devin.

(Devin) Hi, I'm Devin.

I'm a junior at Valley High School.

(Lilo) Hi, I'm Lilo.

I'm a senior at Mojave High School.

(Dani) Hi, I'm Dani.

I'm a senior at Silverado High School.

(Tommy) Hi, I'm Tommy, and I'm a senior at Bonanza High School.

-That's Team Betancourt!

[applause] The coach for Team Betancourt, it's Coach E-K from Mojave!

[applause] -Now, let's meet our players from Team Krafve starting with Jaden.

(Jaden) Hi, I'm Jaden.

I'm a freshman from Sierra Vista High School.

(Pike) Hi, I'm Pike.

I'm a junior from Sierra Vista High School.

(Yassin) Hi, I'm Yassin.

I'm a senior at Valley High School.

(Ellowyn) Hi, I'm Ellowyn.

I'm a junior at Southeast Tech.

-That's team Krafve!

[applause] -The coach for Team Krafve, it's Sarah Moore from Mojave!

[applause] -So a reminder to all of our students to please speak clearly and loudly so the judges can hear you.

Now, our microphones can certainly hear you.

But if you're-- even if you're whispering, the mics will hear you.

But over here, we might not be able to hear you.

So the judges need to be able to hear you on the other side of the studio.

Also, you have to wait until you're recognized before answering a question.

As a reminder, no student on either team will be allowed to buzz in until the entire question has been read.

You guys ready?

Let's do the Varsity Quiz All-Star Match.

The 2022 Men's World Cup was hosted by which country?

That's Team Betancourt, Dani: Qatar -Yes.

The movie Top Gun: Maverick features fictional combat aces, but one real combat ace was Manfred Von Richthofen who was better known by what nickname?

Team Betancourt, Lilo: The Red Baron -Yes.

Wile E. Coyote pursued a member of which bird species in those Looney Tunes cartoons?

Team Betancourt, Devin: Ostrich -No.

Team Krafve, Yassin: Woodpecker -No.

Don't you guys remember The Road Runner ?

"Meep Meep" Vroom!

I highly recommend Looney Tunes .

Next question.

Name the form of alternative medicine developed from the traditional Chinese practice where needles are precisely placed in parts of the body.

Team Betancourt, Tommy: Acupuncture -Yeah.

You ever had that?

No, me neither.

I think I'm gonna pass on the acupuncture.

Hey, if you're driving a Pinto, what company made your car?

Team Betancourt, Tommy: Ford -Yeah.

You guys never heard of the Ford Pinto?

Google it.

Next question.

King Montezuma, II, was the last king of what Ancient South American civilization?

Team Betancourt, Dani: Aztecs -Yep.

Ooh, this is a good one.

Dr. James Naismith invented which popular sport?

Krafve, Pike: Basketball -Shah!

Are you a hoopster?

-No.

-But you know your basketball history?

-Yes.

-All right.

Hey, in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets , what charm backfires on Ron when he wants to make Draco pay for calling Hermione a "filthy little Mudblood"?

[bell chimes, time expires] -Okay.

You're gonna kick yourself.

Don't you remember when he said, "Eat slugs"?

Couple of nods, okay.

Next question.

Who did the Greeks fight in the Battle of Thermopylae?

Team Betancourt, Tommy: The Persians -Yes, sir.

Little bit louder, Tommy.

Next question.

What 1939 movie won the Oscar for best song even though the MGM executives wanted to cut "Over the Rainbow" because it was too slow?

Team Betancourt, Dani: The Wizard of Oz -Yeah.

I hope you've all seen Wizard of Oz .

No?

Yes?

"I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."

Next question.

A philatelist is someone who collects what?

Team Betancourt, Tommy: Stamps -Yes!

Loud and proud, Tommy!

Yes!

[laughter] -Next question.

In Act V of the play King John , which author wrote, "This England never did... lie at the proud foot of a conqueror"?

[bell chimes, time expires] -Shakespeare.

Next question.

This word used to refer to an all-terrain vehicle, but it's also an informal term for one of your muscles.

Team Betancourt, Devin: ATV -No.

[bell chimes, time expires] -You guys ever go out to Panguitch or something and ride around on a Quad?

Okay.

[laughter] -Next question.

What bad guy's on-screen costume was actually inspired by samurai helmets and World War II era gas masks?

Betancourt, Lilo: Darth Vader -Yes.

Next question.

On October 17, 1945, a crowd took to the Plaza de Mayo in Argentina to call for the freedom of whom?

[bell chimes, time expires] -Juan Peron.

A mollusk appears in what two-word phrase meaning "to suddenly become silent"?

Team Betancourt, Tommy: Clam Up -Yeah.

See, that's sort of pun.

[laughter] -All right.

Who is the god of war in Roman mythology?

Team Krafve, Yassin: Athena -Nope.

Team Betancourt, Devin: Mars -Yes.

And that's the end of Round 1.

We wanted to explain where these All-Star team names come from.

So Team Betancourt is named for a fellow named Carlos Betancourt, and Carlos was a coach of Varsity Quiz teams for 16 years.

He served as a moderator for both Junior Varsity Quiz and Varsity Quiz in the schools.

He is one of the inaugural members of the Varsity Quiz Hall of Fame.

He retired from the CCSD in 2012.

And since then, Carlos has still been volunteering for Junior Varsity Quiz and Varsity Quiz .

And that's Team Betancourt.

Now let's explain Team Krafve.

This honors the memory of Dick Krafve.

Dick was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas.

He was the honorary Varsity Quiz head judge.

Man, he judged matches twice a week for 32 years.

Dick, also an inaugural member of the Varsity Quiz Hall of Fame, as well as a member of the CCSD Hall of Fame.

That's Dick Krafve.

That's for whom the other team is named.

Let's continue with the All-Star Match.

[crashing sound] The score as we go into Round 2 of the Blue League All-Star Match.

Team Betancourt has 55 to Team Krafve's 5.

[crashing sound] So we have a wide gap here.

Let's see what happens.

I have a couple of new players for Team Betancourt.

We already know Devin and Lilo.

Let's start with Arturo.

Tell us your name, your grade, and what school you go to.

(Arturo) My name's Arturo.

I go to Del Sol Academy, and I'm a senior.

-Excellent!

(Dylan) Hi, I'm Dylan.

I'm a senior at Calvary Chapel Christian School.

-Awesome!

That's Team Betancourt!

[applause] -Team Krafve, let's start with Richie.

(Ritchie) Hi, my name is Ritchie.

I go to Mojave High School, and I'm a senior.

(Aaron) Hi, I'm Aaron.

I'm a senior at Las Vegas High School.

(Drew) I'm Drew, and I am a senior at Del Sol.

Yeah.

-Excellent!

And Yassin is returning.

So good to have you guys here.

That's Team Krafve!

[applause] So coaching the All-Stars tonight, we have coaches from a couple of the top teams this season.

For Team Krafve, Sarah Moore.

For Team Betancourt, it's Coach E-K.

So are you guys ready?

Let's do more Varsity Quiz All-Star!

Give the term beginning with the letter T, as in Tom, that's from the Greek for "a place for watching."

Team Krafve, Drew: Terrace -No.

Team Betancourt, Lilo: Theater -Yeah.

Points on the board.

See, these are just easy fun questions.

Next, Bruno the dog is turned into a footman for the horse-drawn pumpkin coach in this animated movie.

Team Krafve, Yassin: Coco -Nope.

Team Betancourt, Arturo: Cinderella -It was easier than you thought, Yassin.

It was Cinderella .

So points for Team Betancourt.

Okay.

Some people drive vans, some people drive sedans, and still others drive SUVs.

What does SUV stand for?

[bell chimes, time expires] -Aw, kids.

You don't drive?

SUV is a Sport Utility Vehicle.

So you're gonna go home, and you're gonna tell your folks, Hey, I learned something at Varsity Quiz today.

[laughter] -Next question.

After which President's tragic assassination was Andrew Johnson the successor?

Team Krafve, Drew: John F. Kennedy -No.

Team Betancourt, Devin: Abraham Lincoln -Yes.

Next question.

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire , with whom does Hagrid fall in love?

Team Krafve, Aaron: Madame Maxime -Yeah.

See you guys are all Harry Potter people.

I know you.

Next question.

What's the capital city of Egypt?

Team Betancourt, Dylan: Cairo -Yeah.

What is Taylor Swift's newest album called?

Team Krafve, Ritchie: "Midnights" -Yeah.

-I mean, you're all Swifties aren't you?

[laughter] -Duh, part of the billions and billions of downloads of Taylor Swift.

Next question.

Identify the long bone of the arm from the elbow to the wrist whose name is derived from the Latin word for "elbow."

Team Krafve, Aaron: Ulna -Yeah, you were just guessing, weren't you?

-Yes.

-It worked.

Hey, give the term for a group of four male singers characterized by four-part harmony with no instrumental accompaniment.

That's Team Krafve, Drew: Quartet -That's not enough.

Team Betancourt, Lilo: Barbershop Quartet -Shah!

Have you heard of Barbershop Quartet?

They are awesome.

Next question.

If the doctor says you have a fever with a body temperature of 39, what scale are they using?

Betancourt, Arturo: Celsius -Yeah, you better hope so.

Lex Luthor, the arch nemeses of which superhero?

Team Krafve, Yassin: Superman -Shah!

Comic books, yes!

Hey, identify one of the survivors in Melville's Moby Dick whose name also identifies the elder son of the biblical Abraham.

Betancourt, Arturo: Cain -No.

Krafve, Yassin: Ishmael -Yeah, you're on a roll now, man.

Next question.

Overlooking the city of Granada this fortress's name means "the Red" in Arabic.

Name this place.

[bell chimes, time expires] [buzzer sound] -Did he get in before the buzzer?

We'll go with Team Krafve, Yassin: Hamad -No.

That's time.

We were looking for The Alhambra.

Next question.

Name the muscular not so smart admirer of Belle in Beauty and the Beast .

Betancourt-- it was Arturo or Dylan and ended up being-- Arturo?

-Gaston -Yes!

Next question.

Auckland is the former capital of what country?

Krafve, Yassin: New Zealand -Yes.

Which British singer/songwriter wrote acclaimed songs for the Disney animated classic The Lion King ?

Betancourt, Dylan: Elton John -Yes.

I have that CD.

Well, at least you didn't say, What's a CD?

[laughter] -Hey, the White House, located at what street address?

Krafve, Yassin: [no response] Ooh, I think we got to take that as a "no answer."

[bell chimes, time expires] -1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

That's the end of Round 2!

[crashing sound] Going into Round 3 of the Blue League All-Star Match.

Team Betancourt has 95 points to Team Krafve's 35 points.

[crashing sound] There is still a chance that Team Krafve can catch up.

All of our players are returning from previous appearances in other rounds.

There's Dani, Tommy, Arturo, and Dylan for Team Betancourt.

Jaden, Pike, Ellowyne, and Drew for Team Krafve.

Students, let's get right into Round 3.

What was the last single that the Beatles released before the band broke up?

Team Betancourt, Dylan: "Let It Be" -Yes.

At least you've heard of the Beatles.

[laughter] -Next question.

Which Queen of Spain reigned from 1474 to 1504?

Team Betancourt, Dani: Isabella -Yes.

Wow!

That's good.

Next question.

Uh-oh, everybody better be pouncing on this one.

Zion National Park is found in what state?

Team Krafve, Ellowyne: Utah -Shah!

You been there, haven't you?

Hopefully you've all been to Zion, yes?

It's an awesome, beautiful place.

Okay, so which game in the United States is called Noughts and Crosses in Britain?

Team Betancourt, Arturo: Marbles and Jax -No.

Team Krafve, Drew: Tic Tac Toe -Yeah.

Speak up loud and proud, students!

Pretend you're back on recess on the playground outdoors.

Outside voices!

I heard you, Drew, but just barely, because I'm old.

Next question.

April 15 is the day that Major League baseball players all wear the number 42.

Whose number are they wearing?

Betancourt, Arturo: Jackie Robinson -Yes, that's Jackie Robinson.

You need to Google Jackie Robinson if you don't know him.

Okay.

Used as a part of his villainous pseudonym, what character's real middle name is Marvolo?

Betancourt, Tommy: Voldemort -You said the name that is not to be spoken.

[laughter] Thank you, Tommy.

That's correct.

Next question.

Whoo, now we're going to test your musical trivia knowledge.

Which rapper's real born name was Marshall Bruce Mathers, II?

Betancourt, Dani: Eminen -Shah!

Yeah, because get it, it's M and M.?

All right.

If you have to explain it, nevermind.

Which man faced a heresy charge in 1633 for advocating Copernican theory?

Betancourt, Tommy: Galileo -Loud and proud, Tommy!

-Galileo!

-Yes!

The Mizpah Hotel is considered one of the most haunted hotels in America.

In what Nevada town is the Mizpah Hotel located?

Betancourt, Arturo: Reno -Nope.

Krafve, Drew: Las Vegas -No.

It's beautiful downtown Tonopah.

[yawning] -Dying in the year 2010, Miep Geis was known for her association with which young writer?

It's a tough one.

[bell chimes, time expires] -We're looking for Anne Frank.

Next question.

Which state is the only one to have once had a monarchy?

Betancourt, Arturo: Utah -No.

Krafve, Ellowyne: Hawaii -Yeah, very good.

Next question.

Elvis Presley was born on January 8.

His daughter just died on January 12 of this year.

What was her name?

Betancourt, Dani: Lisa Marie -Yeah.

What lake's name is a shortened form of the Iroquoian word "erielhonen," meaning "long tail"?

That's Krafve, Ellowyn: Erie -Yes.

All right.

You guys are on a roll now.

In a popular novel, author Gregory Maguire gave what classic character the name "Elphaba"?

Team Betancourt, Dani: Wicked -We need more.

- The Wicked Witch -Yeah.

Actually, I think she may be right, because I think the novel was just called Wicked .

[confers with judges] -Oh, yeah.

[buzzer sound] -We'll try with Team Krafve, Drew: The Wicked Witch of the West -Yeah.

Loud and Proud, Drew.

Outside voice.

Yeah, you don't have to lean in.

I heard you.

[laughter] The microphone sure hears it.

Oh, darn.

We ran out of time.

Hey, we want to take a moment to say thank you to the Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas.

They provide judges for the in-school competitions that lead up to what we're doing here today.

We sure appreciate the Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas.

They're more than a half-century of dedication to Varsity Quiz .

We salute their fine work in the community, too.

And a big shout-out to the staff and the leadership of the Clark County School District Student Activities Department.

Man, they take a lot of time every year coordinating each step of the program from early in the school year all the way to the championships.

And some of them are sitting right over there.

[crashing sound] All right, we're getting ready to go into the final round.

The score, Team Betancourt has 130 to Team Krafve's 60.

[crashing sound] It might be a little out of hand on the score, but that's why you play the game.

Team Betancourt has returning players Dylan, Arturo, Devin, and Lilo.

Good luck, you guys.

Team Krafve has returning players Ritchie, Pike, Ellowyn, and Aaron.

Go get'em, you guys.

Here's our final round.

Named after Sir Robert Peel, what are British police called?

Krafve, Aaron: Bobbies -Yep, you're off to a good start.

Here we go.

In January 2007, Apple unveiled this now ubiquitous device.

Betancourt, Dylan: The iPhone -Yeah.

Remember the commercials, "I want an iPhone 4"?

Yeah, because they're up to iPhone 200 by now.

Next question.

Which amendment to the Constitution abolished slavery?

That's Krafve, Aaron: The Thirteenth -Yes, sir.

Name the classic Christmas movie that stars Macauley Culkin and Joe Pesci, "ya filthy animal."

Betancourt, Arturo: Home Alone -Yeah, you've all seen that, I hope.

All right.

In the military, what does the acronym AWOL stand for?

Krafve, Aaron: Away Without Leave -Well, I don't think we can take that.

[confers with judges] We can take that?

Okay, it's "absent," but we'll take "away."

So points for Team Krafve.

Next question.

Which country's flag shows a leaf from a deciduous tree?

Krafve, Ellowyn: Canada -Yeah, the maple leaf.

Next question.

Which musical retelling of Romeo and Juliet won 10 academy awards back in 1962?

Team Betancourt, Dylan: West Side Story -Yeah.

I even like-- did you see the remake?

Aw, I recommend both of them.

Next question.

Often consisting of leaves, straw, or peat moss, name the material that's often spread on the ground around plants to protect roots and conserve water in the soil.

Krafve, Pike: Mulch -Yeah.

Next question.

Before Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball," it was offered to which singer?

Krafve, Ritchie: Katy Perry -No.

Betancourt, Arturo: Taylor Swift -Who?

-Taylor Swift.

-No, it was Beyonce.

Beyonce turned down "Wrecking Ball," man.

Do you know what song I'm talking about?

Okay, good.

A heliologist studies what heavenly body?

That's Krafve, Aaron: Stars -I don't think we can take that.

Betancourt, Arturo: Planets -No, it was the sun.

Not just stars, it's the sun.

Next question.

Which athlete was known as Cassius Clay before he changed his name?

Betancourt, Lilo: Muhammad Ali -Yes.

How is the following proverb traditionally stated?

There is illumination at the termination of the subterranean excavation.

Krafve, Aaron: There's a light at the end of the tunnel -Yeah.

That's one of the dumber ones we've had, but you got it.

Actually, we're proud of that one.

[laughter] -Next question.

What Amazon owned company is known for selling books that you listen to?

Betancourt, Devin: Audible -Yeah.

Do you listen to some books?

But you've heard of it.

Okay.

The mask worn by Scream villain Ghostface was used because it resembles art by what painter?

Betancourt, Arturo: Vincent van Gogh -No.

[bell chimes, time expires] Edvard Munch, The Scream .

Next question.

Name the longest river in China.

Krafve, Aaron: The Yellow River -No.

Betancourt, Devin: The Yangtze River -Yes, sir!

Next question.

The young adult novel The Fault in Our Stars takes its title from what Shakespeare work?

[bell chimes, time expires] Julius Caesar.

Next question.

The biblical Job suffered from many ailments including what painful pusfilled bumps that form under your skin when bacteria infect and inflame one or more of your hair follicles?

Krafve, Pike: Pimple -No.

Betancourt, Dylan: Boils -Yeah.

Eww.

Name the bird that makes the longest annual migration.

Betancourt, Dylan: Penguins -No.

Krafve, Ellowyn: Geese -No, it's the Arctic Tern.

Next question.

Name this author who currently holds the title of the "World's Best-Selling Novelist."

It shouldn't be a mystery.

Betancourt, Dylan: Agatha Christie -Yeah.

Oh, we're out of time.

Let's get that final score.

[crashing sound] Final score: Team Betancourt's 170 to Team Krafve's 90.

[crashing sound] We want to say congratulations to all of the All-Stars on Team Krafve.

Thank you, guys, for your great contribution to the Blue League.

[Applause] But now we need to say congratulations to the All-Star Champions from Team Betancourt of the Blue League!

[cheers and applause] -Now, before we go, we are very grateful to all the folks who make Varsity Quiz the success that it is and has been for 54 years.

We want to talk about the coaches, the teachers, and obviously the students.

But, hey, how about some love for the parents of these young men and women?

Yes!

[applause] So we hope to see you next week as we start the road to the Silver League Championship, the first of four Quarterfinal Matches.

Clark is going to take on Green Valley.

Thanks for watching, and we'll see you next time on Varsity Quiz on Vegas PBS!

Good night!

[applause] ♪♪♪