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(upbeat music) (whistle blowing) - Welcome to this season of "WVIA's Scholastic Scrimmage."

I'm your host, Paul Lazar.

"Scholastic Scrimmage" is a question and answer competition featuring high school students from across the WVIA viewing area.

In each program, two schools will compete in a single elimination tournament for a chance to win one, three or $5,000.

Tonight's match features Mount Carmel versus Southern Columbia.

Representing Mount Carmel are Majad Kanafani, Eben Hein, Avery Bosland and Lucas Edmondson.

Their alternate is Hannah Fourspring and their advisors are Aaron Dominski and Chris Cunningham.

Representing Southern Columbia are Declan McGinley, Johnny Barnett, Will Victory, and Austin Schaefer.

Their alternate is Vivian Miller and their advisor is Carissa Long.

"Scholastic Scrimmage" is a game of rapid recall of factual information.

So let's take a moment and review the rules.

The first team to buzz in will have an opportunity to answer a toss-up question.

Correct answers to these questions are awarded 10 points and that team will then receive a five-point bonus question.

If that toss-up answer is incorrect, no points will be deducted but the question will then rebound to the other team.

If the other team answers correctly, they'll be given the tossup points, but will not receive a bonus question.

Well, let's get the game started with this toss-up question, which will require your pencils and your papers.

What is the value of four raised to the negative second power, given it is equal to one divided by four.

Austin, Southern Columbia.

- One over 16.

- Is correct, and here's your bonus question.

At what point on a phase diagram, which occurs at around 374 degrees Celsius for water, do liquid and gas phases become indistinguishable?

(buzzer blaring) - Ice two?

- No, this was the critical point, the critical point.

Alright, here's our next toss-up question.

In what country was a controversial finance bill vetoed in 2024 by President William Ruto after protesters stormed its parliament building in Nairobi?

Austin, Southern Columbia.

- Nigeria.

- Is incorrect.

Rebound to Mount Carmel.

(buzzer blaring) - Chad.

- Nope, that country is Kenya, Kenya.

Here's our next toss-up.

What man who built a large studio in his hometown of Greenville, North Carolina created feastables and runs, Majad, Mount Carmel.

- Mr.

Beast.

- Is correct, and here's your bonus.

The capture of non Nanjing ended what 14-year rebellion in 19th-century China that was led by Hong Xiuquan who claimed to be the brother of Jesus?

(timer blaring) That was the Taiping Rebellion.

Okay, here's our next toss-up.

What asterism in which Pherkad lies opposite from the North Star, Polaris, is a part of the constellation Ursa Minor that resembles a small spoon?

(buzzer blaring) Eben, Mount Carmel.

- A Little Dipper.

- Is correct.

And here's your bonus.

In what country have anti-government protests grown since the 2025 killing of Affan Kurniawan, a taxi driver who opposed President Prabowo Subianto?

(buzzer blaring) Majad.

- Nepal.

- Nope, this was Indonesia.

Let's go to another toss-up question.

What monument the namesake of the smallest national park in the United States was designed by Eero Saarinen and is a stainless steel arch in St.

Louis?

(buzzer blaring) Austin, Southern Columbia.

- The St.

Louis Arch?

- Is incorrect.

Rebound in Mount Carmel, Eben.

- Gateway Arch.

- The Gateway Arch is correct for your rebound points, Mount Carmel.

As we turn to our next toss-up, in what religion does the Ik Onkar mantra written in Gramicci script begin the Granth Sahib which this Indian religion treats as the eternal guru?

Eben, Mount Carmel.

- Buddhism.

- Is incorrect.

Will.

- Hinduism?

- Nope, you're close, both of you.

Sikhism is what we're looking for.

Alright, here's our next toss-up question.

Lambda phage attacks what organism that may produce shiga-like toxin and is a rod shaped bacterium found in the gut that can cause food poisoning?

Will, Southern Columbia - Tuberculosis.

- Is incorrect.

Rebound to Mount Carmel.

(buzzer blaring) Eben - E. Coli.

- E. Coli is correct for your rebound points.

Alright, let's turn to our next toss-up question.

What general who lost his command after slapping soldiers on Sicily relieved Bastogne.

(buzzer blaring) - Declan, Southern Columbia.

- General Patton.

- Is correct, and your bonus question.

Constantin Brancusi was charged an import tax on an abstract sculpture that depicted what kind of animal in space?

(buzzer blaring) - A dog.

- Nope, this was a bird.

And that sound that you heard signals the end of the first quarter and it's now time for the lightning round.

In this segment, each team will have an opportunity to answer as many of the 10 rapid fire questions as they can in one minute.

Mount Carmel has won the coin toss and will pick first.

Your categories are first lines or historic battles.

- First line.

- First lines it is.

And your time begins when I finish reading the first question.

Given an author and a novels opening words, name the novel, "Herman Melville, call me Ishmael."

(buzzer blaring) - Pass.

- "Moby-Dick," Charles Dickens, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

(buzzer blaring) - "A Christmas Story."

- "A Tale of Two Cities.

Jane Austen, "It is a truth universally acknowledged."

(buzzer blaring) - Pass.

- "Pride and Prejudice."

Leo Tolstoy, "Hhappy families are all alike."

(buzzer blaring) - Pass.

- "Anna Karenina."

Ray Bradbury, "It was a pleasure to burn."

(buzzer blaring) - "Fahrenheit 451."

- Yes.

Kurt Vonnegut, "All this happened more or less."

(buzzer blaring) - Pass.

- "Slaughterhouse-Five."

Albert Camus, "Maman died today."

(buzzer blaring) - Pass.

- "The Stranger."

Zora Neale Hurston, "Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board."

(buzzer blaring) - "Martian Chronicles."

"Their Eyes Were Watching God."

James Joyce, "River run past even Adams."

(buzzer blaring) - Pass.

- "Finnegans Wake."

- Alice Walker, "You better never tell nobody but God."

That was "The Color Purple."

Alright, Mount Carmel, that's going to do it for your portion of the first lightning round.

Southern Columbia, it's over to you and your remaining category will be historic battles, and once again, your time begins when I finish reading the first question.

Given a historic battle, name the present day country where it was fought.

Stalingrad.

(buzzer blaring) - Russia.

- Yes.

Hastings.

(buzzer blaring) - Pass.

- United Kingdom.

Verdun.

(buzzer blaring) France.

Yes.

The Plains of Abraham.

- Canada.

- Yes.

Solferino.

(buzzer blaring) - Pass.

Italy.

Chancellorville.

(buzzer blaring) - United Kingdom.

- United States.

Marathon.

(buzzer blaring) - Greece.

- Greece.

- Yes.

San Juan Hill.

- America.

(buzzer blaring) - America.

- Cuba.

Waterloo.

(buzzer blaring) - France.

- Belgium.

- [Paul] Guadalcanal.

(buzzer blaring) - Pass.

- Those are the Solomon Islands.

All right, that's going to do it for the first lightning round.

And after that, a very tight game.

We have Mount Carmel in the lead over Southern Columbia, 45 to 40, as we go ahead now and move into the second quarter with this toss-up question.

What poem notes slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe depicts the snicker-snack of a vorpal sword and is a nonsense work by Lewis Carroll?

(buzzer blaring) Johnny, Southern Columbia.

- "Don Quixote."

- Is incorrect.

Rebound to Mount Carmel.

(timer blaring) That was "Jabberwocky."

All right, guys, here's our next toss-up question.

Disproportion is a special case of what class of reactions composed of two half reactions in which one species gains electrons and another loses?

(buzzer blaring) Johnny, Southern Columbia.

- Double replacement.

- Is incorrect.

Rebound to Mount Carmel.

(buzzer blaring) Eben.

- Single replacement.

- No, this is redox reactions.

All right, guys, let's go to another toss-up question.

What building where Edward V and his brother disappeared once imprisoned Walter Raleigh?

(buzzer blaring) Austin, Southern Columbia.

- The Tower of London.

- Is correct.

And here's your bonus now.

Lake of Saul, the lowest point in Africa, is in what small country nestled between Eritrea, Somalia and Ethiopia?

(buzzer blaring) - South Sudan?

- No, this is Djibouti.

Djibouti.

Okay, let's go to another toss-up question.

What structure whose northern end is at Bramble Cay is the largest structure made by living organisms and is a coral reef off Australia's coast?

(buzzer blaring) Eben, Mount Carmel.

- The Great Barrier Reef.

- Is correct, and here's your bonus, and get out your pencils and papers.

If a teacher can grade a single essay in five minutes, how many hours will she need to grade 90 essays?

(buzzer blaring) - Lucas.

- Four, four.

- Is incorrect, that's 7 1/2 hours.

7 1/2 hours.

Here's our next toss-up question.

What group of elements reacts the most violently with water, have the lowest first ionization?

Will, Southern Columbia.

- The alkaline metals.

- Is correct, and here's your bonus.

In July, 2025, Donald Trump announced a trade deal imposing 19% tariffs on what country with the backing of its president, Bongbong Marcos?

(contestants whispering) (buzzer blaring) - Brazil.

- No, this was the Philippines.

All right, here's our next toss-up question.

What title was bestowed at the 1877 Durbar in Delhi after Benjamin Disraeli secured Queen Victoria a new honor that recognized her largest colony?

(buzzer blaring) Austin, Southern Columbia.

- Ruler of the Commonwealth.

- Is incorrect, rebound to Mount Carmel.

(timer blaring) That title was the Empress of India.

All right, here's our next toss-up question.

What artwork that depicts the distressed nymph, Chloris, as she's pursued by Zephyrus is a Sandra Botticelli painting named for the spring?

(buzzer blaring) Austin, Southern Columbia.

- Verdi.

- Is incorrect, rebound to Mount Carmel.

(buzzer blaring) - No answer.

No answer.

- That is La Primavera.

All right, here's our next toss-up question.

What island whose name means Sulfur Island is home to Mount Suribachi where US?

Declan, Southern Columbia.

- Iwo Jima.

- Is correct.

And your bonus question.

What man who was appointed chief minister to Henry VIII in 1534 helped the king get his first marriage annulled, but was beheaded in 1540?

(contestants whispering) (buzzer blaring) - Thomas Moore.

- Thomas Cromwell as we were looking for.

Wellm that sound that you heard signals the end of the first half, and we're now going to give our contestants a bit of a break, and the opportunity for those of you at home to get to know them a little better.

And we'll start with the students from Mount Carmel, and Majad will come to you first.

If you had a superpower, tell us what it would be and why.

(upbeat music) - I think I'd like to run really fast, just so I could just like be wherever I need to be.

- Like the Flash, right?

- Yeah.

- Awesome, thanks, Majad.

Eben.

- Say probably teleport.

- [Paul] Awesome, that's an awesome power.

Avery.

- I think super speed, but faster than Majad's.

(Paul laughing) - Lucas.

- Oh, super strength.

- All right, thanks, Mount Carmel, and good luck to you guys the rest of the way.

Southern Columbia, over to you.

Declan, if you had a superpower, what would it be and why?

- I would say a photographic memory because I'll be able to do work a lot easier and faster.

- [Paul] It certainly would make things easier.

Johnny.

- I would say super flight so I could get to activities like FBLA events quicker, faster.

(contestants laughing) - [Paul] (laughing) Thanks, Johnny.

Will.

- I'd love to stop time so I could study more for trivia.

- All right, and Austin.

- Same as well.

(everybody laughing) - You guys are doing just fine.

Very nice to see all of you again.

We're gonna go ahead and begin the third quarter with this toss-up question.

What New York Senator was shot in Los Angeles's Ambassador Hotel by Sirhan Sirhan, ending his bid to follow in his brother John's shoes as president?

(buzzer blaring) Austin, Southern Columbia.

- Robert F. Kennedy.

- Robert F. Kennedy is correct.

And here's your bonus now.

In 2024, University of Washington coach, Kalen DeBoer, was hired to replace what seven-time national champion football coach at Alabama?

(buzzer blaring) - Nick Saban.

- Nick Saban is correct for your bonus points, Southern Columbia, as we go to our next toss-up question.

What quantity which induces a namesake form of gyroscope procession is the rotational analog of force and can be represented by capital T?

(buzzer blaring) Eben, Mount Carmel.

- Torque.

- Is correct.

And your bonus question.

What process whose allopatric form is caused by geographic separation occurs when populations evolve after becoming reproductively isolated?

(buzzer blaring) - Bottleneck effect.

- No, this is speciation.

Speciation.

Here's our next toss-up question.

What country which titles a trilogy of novels including "The Big Money" by John Dos Passos is the setting of Dos Passos's novel, "Manhattan Transfer?"

(buzzer blaring) Johnny, Southern Columbia.

- United States.

- Is correct.

And here's your bonus.

What state's congressional delegation consists in its entirety of Representative Harriet Hageman and Senator Cynthia Lummis and John Barrasso?

(buzzer blaring) - Will.

- DC.

- No, we're looking for Wyoming.

All right, let's go to another toss-up question.

What leader co-published "The Revolution" with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, founded the NWSA, and was a 19th-century activist for women's rights?

(buzzer blaring) Austin, Southern Columbia.

- Ida B. Wells.

- Is incorrect.

Rebound now to Mount Carmel.

(buzzer blaring) Eben.

- Susan B. Anthony.

- Is correct for your rebound points, Mount Carmel, as we go to our next toss-up question.

What English cardinal direction precedes enters in a British soap opera, partly named a defunct country led by Erich Honecker and is opposite west?

(buzzer blaring) Majad, Mount Carmel.

- East.

- Is correct, and here's your bonus.

In the 1990s, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols conspired to blow up a federal building in what city?

(buzzer blaring) Eben.

- Oklahoma.

- [Paul] Be more specific.

- Oklahoma City.

- Is correct for your bonus points, Mount Carmel, as we go to our next toss-up question.

What instrument, the primary one played by jazz musicians, Charlie Christian, Robert Johnson and Django Reinhardt, has acoustic and electric types?

Will, Southern Columbia.

- Guitar.

- Is correct.

And your bonus question now.

Crater lake is what kind of feature which forms when a volcano collapses after emptying its magma chamber?

(contestants whispering) (buzzer blaring) - Basin.

- No, that's a caldera, caldera.

All right, our next toss-up question.

What novel in which yellow fever kills Rawdon Crawley depicts Amelia Sedley and Becky Sharp, and is a novel without a hero by William Thackeray?

(buzzer blaring) Eben, Mount Carmel.

- "Oregon Trail."

- Is incorrect.

Rebound to Southern Columbia.

(contestant whispering) (buzzer blaring) - "The Heart of Darkness."

- No, this was "Vanity Fair."

Let's go to another toss-up question.

What class of rocks whose non-foliated types include quartzite?

(buzzer blaring) Eben, Mount Carmel.

- Sedimentary - Is incorrect.

I'll finish the question and rebound to Southern Columbia.

And marble form through the effects of heat and pressure, altering existing rocks?

(timer blaring) (buzzer blaring) - Oh.

- Metamorphic.

- Is correct for your rebound points, Southern Columbia, and that sound that you heard signals the end of the third quarter and another lightning round.

(transition whooshing) This time, Southern Columbia will pick first.

Your categories are 2024 hits, or eight.

(contestants whispering) - Eight.

- Eight.

- Eight it is, and your time begins when I finish reading the first question.

Answer the following about the number eight.

Polygon with eight sides.

(buzzer blaring) - Octagon.

- [Paul] Yes, film franchise whose episode eight is "The Last Jedi."

(buzzer blaring) - "Star Wars."

- Yes.

Element with atomic number eight.

(buzzer blaring) - Oxygen.

- [Paul] Yes.

Singer who noted, "So I think I better go, I never really know how to please you," in their song "8."

(buzzer blaring) - Pass.

- [Paul] Billy Eilish.

Data unit equal to eight bits.

(buzzer blaring) - A bite.

- Yes, religion whose teachings include the eightfold path.

(buzzer blaring) - Buddhism.

- [Paul] Yes, eighth letter of the Greek alphabet, often used for angles.

(buzzer blaring) - Theta.

- [Paul] Yes, renaissance empire whose money was divided into pieces of eight.

(buzzer blaring) - Italy.

- [Paul] Spain.

Baseball fielding position represented by the number eight.

(buzzer blaring) - Pass.

- [Paul] Center fielder.

Eighth state to ratify the Constitution, its flag has a crescent moon.

(buzzer blaring) - South Carolina.

- Is correct.

All right, Southern Columbia, great job in that lightning round.

Mount Carmel, it's over to you, and your remaining category will be 2024 hits.

And once again, your time begins when I finish reading the first question.

Given a Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit from 2024, name its artist, "Espresso."

(buzzer blaring) - Sabrina Carpenter.

- Yes.

"The Tortured Poets Department."

(buzzer blaring) - Taylor Swift.

- [Paul] Yes, "Good Luck, Babe."

(buzzer blaring) - Chaperone.

- [Paul] Yes, "Squabble up."

(buzzer blaring) - Kendrick Lamar.

- Yes.

"Too Sweet."

(buzzer blaring) - Sabrina Carpenter.

- [Paul] Hosier.

The Dolly Parton cover, "Jolene."

(buzzer blaring) - Pass.

- Beyonce.

"Pink Skies."

(buzzer blaring) - Zach Bryan.

- Yes.

"Saturn."

(buzzer blaring) - SZA.

- Yes.

"Stick Season."

(buzzer blaring) - Noah Kahan.

- [Paul] Yes.

"Noid."

(buzzer blaring) - Tyler, The Creator.

- That is correct.

Wow, Mount Carmel, you did excellent in that lightning round.

And after that, a very close game.

Southern Columbia in the lead over Mount Carmel by just 20 points, 150 to 130, as we begin the last segment of the game with this toss-up question.

What city where payments made to a bodyguard led Mayor LaToya Cantrell to be indicted in 2025 is the endpoint of the new?

(buzzer blaring) Austin, Southern Columbia.

- New York City.

- Is incorrect.

I'll finish the question and rebound to Mount Carmel.

Is the endpoint of the new Mardi Gras train route?

(buzzer blaring) - Eben.

- Baton Rouge.

- No, that city is New Orleans, New Orleans.

Okay, here's our next toss-up.

What kingdom's rulers included the disputed Maid of Norway Margaret, her successor John Baillie and anti-English independence leader, Robert the Bruce?

(buzzer blaring) Will, Southern Columbia.

- England.

- Is incorrect.

Rebound to Mount Carmel.

(buzzer blaring) - No answer.

No answer.

- That is Scotland.

All right, let's go now to another toss-up.

What particles discovered in the Cowan-Reines experiment oscillate between three flavors and have a name meaning they are little and neutral?

(buzzer blaring) Johnny, Southern Columbia.

- Neutron.

- Is incorrect.

Rebound now to Mount Carmel.

(buzzer blaring) Eben.

- Quarks.

- No, these are neutrinos, neutrinos.

Our next tossup.

What author of "The Catbird Seat" depicted an ordinary man who imagines himself a surgeon and a cunning attorney in "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty?"

(buzzer blaring) Will, Southern Columbia.

- "Catch Me If You Can."

- Is incorrect?

Rebound to Mount Carmel.

(buzzer blaring) - No answer.

- That is James Thurber.

All right, here's our next toss-up.

What essay, which advocates class struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat?

(buzzer blaring) Will, Southern Columbia.

- "The Communist Manifesto."

- Is correct.

And your bonus now.

What author of the novel "The Human Stain" won a Pulitzer Prize for a novel about a glove manufacturer known as the Swede, 1997's American Pastoral?

(buzzer blaring) - Kendrick Lamar.

- (laughing) No, this was Philip Roth.

All right, let's go to another toss-up question.

What current world leader's thought includes a commitment to one country, two systems in the special administrative regions of Macau and Hong Kong?

(buzzer blaring) Austin, Southern Columbia.

- China.

- Is incorrect.

Rebound to Mount Carmel.

(buzzer blaring) - No answer.

- We're looking for the leader, Xi Jinping.

Okay, here's our next toss-up.

What czar, who trained as a shipbuilder during his grand embassy, won at Poltava?

(buzzer blaring) Austin, Southern Columbia.

- Peter the Great.

- Is correct.

And here's your bonus, and get out your pencils and papers.

What is the final cost of a $30 book that is discounted by 20% before a 10% sales tax is added?

(contestants whispering) (buzzer blaring) - $24.

Nope, that is $26.40.

All right, let's go to another toss-up here.

What title woman lives above the handsome chef, Gabriel, works at Savoir and is played by Lily Collins on a Netflix series set in France's capital.

(buzzer blaring) Eben, Mount Carmel.

- No answer.

- [Paul] Okay, rebound to Southern Columbia.

(buzzer blaring) - No answer.

- That is Emily Cooper.

Emily Cooper.

All right, here's our next toss-up.

What action is encouraged on the white days, is proceeded by Suhoor and followed by Iftar during Ramadan and involves abstaining?

(buzzer blaring) Majad, Mount Carmel.

- Fasting.

- Fasting is correct.

And here's your bonus.

The Million Man March was a 1995 event organized by what Black nationalist religious organization currently led by Lewis Farrakhan.

(timer blaring) That is also not Kendrick Lamar.

That is the Nation of Islam.

And that's the end of the game, and our winner tonight is Southern Columbia over Mount Carmel in a great game.

170 to 140.

Congratulations, Southern Columbia.

You're going to be moving on.

And we'll see you next time with another round of "Scholastic Scrimmage."

I'm your host, Paul Lazar, and thank you for watching.

(upbeat music) - [Narrator 1] WVIA Scholastic scrimmage was made possible in part by... (bright orchestral music) - I am building my future, literally, at Luzerne County Community College.

(bright orchestral music) - We don't just talk about it, we build it.

- Your blueprints start here at Luzerne County Community College.

Are you a high school senior or college student trying to further your education?

The Luzerne Foundation can help.

The Luzerne Foundation is a northeastern Pennsylvania based community nonprofit that provides over 100 scholarships a year to students.

The Lucerne Foundation, we are here for good.

- [Narrator 2] A top ranked university at a price you can afford, offering career building programs from engineering to nursing, where nature is right outside your door.

And major cities like New York, Boston, and Washington DC are just a quick drive away.

This is Binghamton University.