Today, two high school teams compete for the Academic Championship of our viewing area.

This is Tennessee Scholars Bowl Thank you for watching Tennessee Scholars' Bowl.

I'm Frank Murphy.

This is the high school academic tournament in its 42nd season, and the winner of today's game advances to the threshold of 32.

Will it be the Tornadoes of Alcoa High School, or will it be the students from the Cedar Springs Homeschool Group?

Either team could win.

Of course, we'll find out at the end of the show, but we got to start by meeting the players.

First up, the Tornadoes, beginning with Tyrus Hudson, who's a junior this year.

Tyrus, welcome.

Tell us about yourself.

I recently hit 10,000 trophies in Clash Royale.

That sounds impressive to me, but I need some explanation.

Is that a video game?

Yeah, and it's Clash Royale.

And 10,000 trophies means... What do you get for that?

10,000 trophies.

You want to give a shout out to your username.

No, I'd rather not.

You know in hindsight that was a terrible question and you gave a very smart answer.

So congratulations on that.

Senior Hannah Green is up next.

Hi, Hannah.

Welcome.

Tell us about you.

Hi.

I have a Venus Flytrap.

No kidding.

Yeah.

And is your house infested with flies that you need this, or do you have to go find flies elsewhere to feed to the trap?

Kind of both.

I just let it stay outside and do the work.

Oh.

It's outside.

Yeah.

Okay.

I saw a video of some time where somebody was, like, feeding little bits of, hamburger meat to a Venus flytrap.

I don't know if that was real or not.

Probably is.

Really?

Yeah.

Okay.

My new goal is to get a Venus flytrap for my yard.

Fantastic.

I have very excited about that.

Team captain for the Tornadoes is Dante Gomez, another senior 12th grade.

As team captain, Dante, you're going to answer bonuses or defer by name to one of your teammates.

Welcome back.

Good to see you again from last year.

What's up with you?

Like Hannah, I have a favorite plant, but mine's a little more boring.

I have an arabica coffee plant.

How does that grow in this climate?

Or do you keep it inside?

I keep it inside, yeah.

And it's been, like, near the death twice.

But it's right now it's flourishing.

It's doing fine.

Okay.

So, have you harvested a single bean from it yet?

No, we're not there yet.

It will be a couple more years.

Couple more years.

We're sticking in for it.

Well, good.

All right, well, I look forward to maybe, you know, after you finish college, send us a note saying, “Oh, by the way, I ground that one bean.

And, we'll remember, we also have another junior.

That's Colette Brown.

Hi, Colette.

Welcome.

Tell us about yourself.

Hi.

I'm Colette, and I drive a manual transmission car.

Good for you.

Good for you.

Who taught you?

Yeah, my mom did.

It's her old car.

What kind?

It's a 2001 Toyota Echo.

Oh, fantastic.

And, how do you find it?

In the hills, driving up and down the hills of East Tennessee?

It's good.

I've had to learn definitely how not to roll back when I'm stopped on hills a lot.

But other than that, it's been great.

You might be the youngest person in America who knows how to drive that.

I mean, I'm going to declare it and someone else can prove me wrong.

Let's say hi to the alternates and coach for Alcoa High School.

We've got Chris Patel, Brady Harris, Fletcher Buchanan and Josh Choi, joined by coach Gina Felbloom, who teaches government and U.S.

history to the Tornadoes, taking on a great squad from Cedar Springs homeschool group and some youngsters.

Some new players too, including a ninth grader, Avery Tyler.

Hey, Avery, welcome to the show.

Tell us about yourself.

I can play three different instruments.

Not simultaneously, obviously, but what's an example of a composition that I might have heard of that you have practiced or, you know, played a couple of times?

Have you ever heard A River Flows In You.

No, say it again.

It's called River Flows in You.

River Flows in You.

Is it a spiritual song?

It's more of like classic.

It's by Yiruma.

Okay.

Well, I have to Google it, but thanks for telling me.

I did not know that one.

I was thinking, you're going to say Chopin.

Let's say hi next to 10th grader.

Owen Humble.

Hey, Owen, welcome.

Tell us about yourself.

I'm Owen Humble, and I recently went to Prague.

I understand that the tourism over there is amazing.

It's beautiful to see, right?

Yeah.

A lot of, old buildings and unique cathedrals and.

Yeah, obviously you enjoyed it, right?

Yeah.

Yeah.

No.

Where would you like to go next?

Having been to Prague?

Probably Iceland.

Really?

Oh, very cool.

All right.

That's a popular tourist spot, too.

Very beautiful.

Team captain is Brextyn Petzel.

Hey, Brextyn, welcome.

You're going to answer bonuses or defer by name to one of your teammates.

Tell us about yourself.

I do musical theater.

Yeah.

So I'm a fan of that.

Have you been in any shows so far that I might have heard of?

I've been in Beetlejuice and Oliver.

Oh, good.

And, you have any goals aspirations as you get older to play a certain character that you've seen?

Probably Javert from Les Mis.

Oh, that's a big part.

Okay.

Yeah.

You've got to work on your singing with that one.

Great.

Nice to hear that.

We also have Hannah Wunderman who is with us.

Hannah, welcome.

Tell us about yourself.

I am Hannah and I play volleyball.

What position of volleyball?

I'm a setter.

And as the homeschool group, you're able to hop onto another team somewhere.

How does that work?

I could, but I play for a local homeschool team.

Oh no kidding.

Oh, great.

And who do you play against?

Public schools and private schools and Christian schools.

Oh, good.

All right, well, that's just like Scholars Bowl, really, if you think about it.

Very good.

Were happy to have you.

Let's say hi to the alternate and coaches for Cedar Springs.

We've got Lucy Blessinger; and coaches Meryl VanderMover and Liz Jones.

We're also delighted to have a very special guest in the studio with us.

We thank Alan Lowe, the CEO of the American Museum of Science and Energy Foundation, for joining us.

And thank you, Alan, for your support of Scholars' Bowl.

All right, everybody, you know how the game works.

We got toss ups worth ten bonuses worth 20.

Get your fingers on the buzzer for this game of Tennessee Scholars' Bowl 2026.

Tossup for all players in the category of religion.

In the Bible, which Old Testament prophet was swallowed by a great fish?

Avery.

Jonah.

That's right.

And a religion bonus.

Who was the warrior in the Book of judges, whose calling by God to deliver Israel from the Philistines was marked by a Nazarite vow, and symbolized by his great strength and long hair.

Samson.

Right for ten.

Who betrayed Samson by having his hair cut while he slept, making him weak and allowing the Philistines to capture him.

Defer to Hannah, Delilah.

That's right for 20 points on the bonus.

Tossup now in arts, the American version of what short form comedy improv series that began as a British radio show.

Dante.

The Office.

Has aired on the CW for over ten years.

Chance to steal Cedar Springs.

It's called, “Whose Line is It Anyway?” Tossup in geometry.

How many lines are determined by four points connecting two points at a time?

No, three of which are collinear.

The answer is six lines.

Tossup in health.

In humans, where do the humerus and radius bones connect?

Dante.

The wrist.

Not it, you can steal, Cedar Springs.

Owen.

Elbow.

That's right for ten, health is your bonus.

Two parts.

Which part of the body is affected by colitis?

Liver.

That's the.

You know, that's the colon.

Which part of the body is affected by encephalitis?

Lung.

That's the brain.

No points on the bonus toss up in economics.

Which company is the largest producer of motorcycles in the US?

Brextyn.

Harley Davidson.

Right for ten, economics bonus now, who published The Wealth of Nations in 1776 and is widely considered the father of modern economics?

Benjamin Franklin.

No, that's Adam Smith.

Tossup in music, in a chorus what is the highest vocal line?

Dante.

Soprano.

Is right.

And a visual bonus for Alcoa.

Take a look at the screens, please.

The gold and platinum records shown here were awarded to which artist, who was known as the King of Rock and roll?

Elvis Presley.

Right for ten, the sale of how many units earns the designation of a gold record by the Recording Industry Association of America?

20,000.

No, gold is half a million, so ten points on the bonus.

Toss up in foreign language.

What is the French word for a buttery, flaky pastry shaped like a quarter moon?

Owen.

Croissant.

Yes, in a foreign language bonus, What are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet?

Alpha and Omega.

Those are both right for 20.

Tossup in vocabulary.

What is the superlative of the adjective, “good.” Avery.

Best.

Right, vocabulary bonus.

What five letter word beginning with A means, a proverb or short statement expressing a general truth?

That's an adage.

A D A G E. Toss up in astronomy, what is the astronomical term for the path of an object under the gravitational influence of a larger mass?

Brextyn.

An orbit.

Right, and astronomy bonus.

Two parts; what is the chemical formula for the compound calcium sulfate which NASA's Curiosity rover discovered in bright white veins in 2013?

No answer.

Calcium sulfate is, CASO4.

Which planet did Curiousity explore?

Mars.

Yeah, you get ten points on the bonus.

Tossup in history.

In 1861, South Carolina blocked a federal ship from resupplying what fort in Charleston harbor?

Dante.

Fort Sumter.

Right, history bonus now.

Two parts; what is the name of the practice of drawing political boundaries for partisan gain?

Gerrymandering.

Right for ten.

The word gerrymandering comes from the name of politician Elbridge Gerry and which animal?

Answer.

You ran out of time there.

You got to answer right away when the buzzer hits.

Salamander, Gerry and Salamander.

Toss up in games, a single player matching game that was included in early versions of Microsoft Windows used images of tiles from what popular Chinese game that is similar- Brextyn.

Mahjong.

Similar to Rummy.

Games bonus for Cedar Springs.

What puzzle game has players complete lines of blocks by moving differently shaped pieces, which descend onto the playing field?

Tetris.

Is right for 20.

Tossup in literature.

Which author created several sleuths, including Jane Marple and Hercule Poirot.

Hannah- Agatha Christie.

Make sure I've called on you all the way.

But yeah, that's your warning.

Agatha Christie is right for ten.

Literature is your bonus.

Which of John Steinbeck's novels focuses on the food processing industry in California?

Cannery Row.

Is correct for 20.

Tossup now in sports, what is the bowling term for all ten pins being knocked down?

Brextyn.

Strike.

Yeah, with the first roll in a frame.

Sports bonus now.

What is the term for the score that a skilled golfer would be expected to make for a given hole?

Birdie.

No, that's par.

What is the term for the closely mown area of a golf course between the tee box and the putting green?

Answer.

That is called fairway.

Tossup for everybody in biology, which type of blood vessels carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body's tissues?

Dante.

Arteries.

And a visual bonus for Alcoa.

Take a look at the screens.

Handle is the collective noun for what type of animal shown here, which has a name that sounds like a type of slender candle.

Candle.

That's a Tapirus or some say, “tapir.” No points on that.

Tossup in geography, in which state is Natchez Trace State Park?

Hannah, Mississippi.

Not it.

You can steal Alcoa.

Dante.

Arizona.

No, that one's in Tennessee.

Toss up now in art with a name that comes from the Greek words for beauty and to write.

What is the art of producing decorative handwriting or lettering Hannah.

Calligraphy.

Yeah, with a pen or brush.

Art is your bonus.

What is the Japanese art of paper folding?

Origami.

Is right for ten.

Now spell, “origami.” Answer.

O R I G A M I. Is correct 20 on that bonus.

Tossup in English.

“It seemed silly that Sam sat sideways,” is an example of what type of figurative speech.

Brextyn.

Alliteration.

Is right.

English is your bonus.

Based on an analysis of the Oxford English Corpus, name four of the ten most frequently used words in written English.

The, A, And, Are.

The, A, and R are correct.

So 15 points there.

The full list is, “the, be, to, of, and, a, in, that, have, I.” So 15 on the bonus.

Tossup in algebra.

In the data set “134568,” what is the median?

Dante.

4.5.

Is correct.

Algebra bonus now for Alcoa.

Solve for Z in the equation, three fourths Z equals Z minus four.

Defer to Colette.

-16 over seven.

No, it's Z is 16 in that case.

So no points there.

Tossup in physics.

The Rockwell number, the Brunel number, and the Mo's scale all measure what physical property?

Hannah.

Hardness.

That's correct.

Physics bonus, now.

Who was the French mathematician, physicist and philosopher who developed the modern theory of probability?

Tee.

No that was Blaise Pascal.

No points on the bonus, tossup in government.

Who presided over the Constitutional Convention?

Hannah.

George Washington.

Right, government bonus.

What document issued by a government official authorizes the police to arrest someone or search their premises?

Warrant.

Yes, warrant is right as the first offense.

There's 20 points for Alcoa.

That's the end of the first half.

Alcoa is catching up a bit to Cedar Springs.

Anybody could win.

One of these teams advances to the threshold of 32.

We'll find out who it's going to be after the break.

On Tennessee's Scholar's Bowl 2026.

The 42nd season of Tennessee Scholar's Bowl is a single elimination tournament featuring 50 high school academic teams.

The championship team at this year's Scholar's Bowl receives the Frank Miller Memorial Trophy.

The scorekeeper, timekeeper, and judges for this year's Scholars' Bowl are Chandler Benson, Ernie Roberts, Jerry Doherty, Stephen Hensley, Rebecca Longmire, James Dean, and Kathy Waddell.

East Tennessee PBS would also like to thank its staff and the many volunteers who helped make this educational program possible to enter your high school to next year's Tennessee Scholars' Bowl, please write to the address shown on your screen.

You're watching Tennessee Scholars' Bowl.

I'm Frank Murphy, back from halftime.

In this game between Alcoa High School and the Cedar Springs Homeschool Group.

It's a very close game.

Either of these teams could win and advance to our threshold of 32, and it's a tight match.

So neither team has put any alternates in, which means we can get right back to it.

Everybody fingers on the buzzer for Tennessee Scholars' Bowl 2026.

Tossup for all players in technology.

On a computer keyboard.

What letter is between G and J?

Colette.

H. Is right, and a technology bonus for Alcoa.

What is the name of Amazon's voice AI?

Alexa.

Right for ten.

What is the name of Apple's voice AI?

Siri.

Also right, 20 on the bonus.

Tossup now in mythology.

What was the name of the mythical Greek god of sleep?

Brextyn.

Hypnos.

That's right.

Mythology bonus now.

What was the name of the mythical Greek goddess of agriculture?

Demeter.

Right.

What was the name of Demeter daughter who was abducted by Hades?

Persephone.

Also right, 20.

Tossup in spelling.

Spell the word fluorescent, as in a fluorescent lamp.

Brextyn.

F L O U R E C E N T. Not it, now their chance to steal, Alcoa.

Hannah.

F L O U R E S C E N T. No, you both put the O before the U. It's “flu” and then the rest of it.

No points on that.

Tossup in chemistry.

Which French scientist is considered to be the father of modern chemistry?

Owen.

Mendelevium.

Not it, you can steal Alcoa.

Dante.

Pasteur.

No, that is Antoine Lavoisier.

Tossup in history.

Who was the cold blooded killer who murdered at least six prostitutes in London in 1888?

Tyrus- Jack the Ripper.

Make sure I've called on you.

Jack the Ripper is right.

History is your bonus.

In September 2025, which country in Oceana celebrated the 50th anniversary of it becoming a member of the British Commonwealth, independent of Australian rule?

New Zealand.

No that is Papua New Guinea.

Which country controls western New Guinea?

Indonesia.

That's right.

The other half of the island.

Right.

ten points on the bonus.

Tossup in sports.

Which team won six NBA championships in the 19- Tyrus.

Chicago Bulls in the 1990s.

Sports bonus, now.

Who was the last NBA rookie of the year to have entered the league straight out of high school?

Defer the Tyrus.

LeBron James.

That's right.

They changed the rules since then.

You're right, 20 points.

Tossup in foreign language.

What is the plural of, “alumnus.” Brextyn.

Alumni.

Right, and a visual bonus now in language.

Take a look at the screens, please.

What word is represented here by American Sign Language Fingerspelling?

Look.

No that is desk.

D E S K. No points on the bonus.

Tossup now in math, 42 is 30% of what number?

How many?

Got that in time?

The buzzer sounded.

140 is the answer.

Tossup in science.

How many watts are in three kilowatts?

Brextyn.

3000.

Is right, and a science bonus for Cedar Springs.

Which branch of science is the study of the behavior of matter at extremely low temperatures?

Answer.

Now that is cryogenics.

Which branch of science is the study of how plants and animals pass on characteristics to their offspring?

Genetics.

Is right, ten on the bonus.

Tossup in economics.

What type of economic system is based on private ownership of the means of production?

Dante.

Capitalism.

That's right.

Economics bonus for Alcoa.

According to a 1970s advertising jingle, the kid will eat the middle of what first and save the chocolate cookie outside for last?

Oreo.

That's right, 20 points.

Tossup in music.

Who wrote the lyrics to The Star Spangled Banner?

Avery.

Scott Key.

Is right.

Music bonus for Cedar Springs; name four of the five instruments that most commonly comprise a woodwind quintet.

Flute .

.

.

I think you ran out of time that I called on you.

Flute is right for five points for that.

The rest of them would be oboe, clarinet, bassoon and French horn.

Five points on the bonus tossup in literature.

What series of books by Jeff Kinney follows Greg- Tyrus.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Yeah, very carefully, as he records the daily trials and triumphs.

A literature bonus now for Alcoa.

Two parts what book by E.B.

White that takes place on a farm is about a pig and his devoted friend who saves his life by spinning words about him.

Charlotte's Web.

Is right for ten.

What is the name of the rat who goes searching for words?

John.

That's Templeton, voiced by Paul Lynde in the movie, FYI.

Tossup for all players in vocabulary.

What seven letter word beginning with B is a synonym for breakable, crumbling and fragile anti brittle?

Yes.

Vocabulary bonus.

What ten letter word beginning with C-H is described as the science of arranging time in periods and ascertaining the dates and historical order of past events?

Chrronology.

Is right, now spell, “chronology.” Answer.

C h r o n o l o g y. Is right, you get 20 on the bonus.

Tossup in geology.

What type of event created Real Foot Lake in Upper West Tennessee?

Dante.

Earthquake.

Correct, geology bonus for Alcoa.

The jewelry industry recognizes which four types of gems as the most sought after precious gemstones?

Diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds.

All four of those are correct for 20 points.

Tossup for all players in geography.

What is the only river on the African continent that flows north toward the Mediterranean?

Brextyn.

Denial.

That's right.

Visual bonus now for Cedar Springs.

Take a look at the screens.

What is the name which means, “little mountain” in Italian, of Thomas Jefferson's home and plantation shown here.

Monticello.

Right for ten.

It's located just outside which city?

That is home to the University of Virginia.

Richmond.

That's Charlottesville.

Ten points on the bonus.

Tossup in religion, which English king embraced the Protestant Reformation and made himself- Avery.

King James.

Made himself head of the Church of England, chance to steal.

Hannah.

King Henry the Eighth.

Right, and a religion bonus now for Alcoa, which exiled spiritual leader of Tibet did Barack Obama invite to the White House despite Chinese government warnings?

The Dalai Lama.

Is right for 20.

Tossup in English.

What is the past tense of the verb bring?

Tyrus.

Brought.

Right English bonus.

What is the subject in this sentence?

“The old abandoned church caught on fire.” Church.

Is right for 20.

Tossup in geometry.

What is the name of a non-square equilateral quadrilateral?

Brextyn.

Hannah.

Parallelogram.

No, it's a rhombus.

That's the non-square equilateral quadrilateral.

Toss up in health.

What is the medical technique devised in China before 2500 BC, in which needles are inserted into the skin?

Dante.

Acupuncture.

To alleviate pain and treat illness.

Health bonus for Alcoa, which medical field specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin disorders?

Dermatology.

Dermatology is right for 20.

Tossup in U.S.

history, which U.S.

president was previously the only southern senator loyal to the Union during the Civil War?

Avery.

Andrew Johnson.

Right for ten, history bonus for Cedar Springs.

On February 12th, 1849, which president, who was a Tennessean, became the first to have his photo taken while serving in office?

Andrew Jackson.

That's James K Polk.

What does the K stand for?

Knox.

Is right.

Ten points on the bonus, tossup in architecture.

What is the nickname for the great bell of the Great Clock of Westminster at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, England?

Avery.

Big Ben.

Right, architecture bonus.

Now, what is the ten letter term for a long projecting beam or girder, fixed only at one end, often used in bridge construction.

It's support?

That's a cantilever.

No points there.

Toss up in foreign language.

What is the main language spoken in Egypt?

Tyrus.

Arabic.

Yes.

Foreign language bonus.

What is the word for, “shirt” in Spanish?

Camisa.

Is right for 20 on the bonus.

Tossup in spelling, a written word that cannot be read or deciphered is illegible.

But, time has run out I didnt even get a chance to learn how to spell, “illegible,” youll have to look that up on your own at home.

That is the end of the game.

It looks like Alcoa has pulled ahead to win.

So congratulations to you guys.

Also, congratulations to Cedar Springs with so many young new players.

We look forward to seeing you for many years to come on Scholars' Bowl.

Brextyn, you want to say anything?

The other team was really fast on their buzzers.

They did a good job.

Well, congratulations to you guys.

And again, we'll look forward to seeing you next year on Scholars' Bowl.

Meanwhile Alcoa, you guys will advance now to the threshold of 32.

Congratulations, Dante.

The other team gave us a good competition.

It was a good game.

And, besides me, everyone from my team on here is new.

And I'm really proud of how we've done.

Very good.

Happy to have you guys, and we'll look forward to seeing you for well next time you're here, which is not that long from now.

In fact, you can find out when Alcoa is going to be here and keep track of all of the teams, all of the players.

Check your listings on your PBS website and binge watch past seasons online using the PBS app.

My name is Frank Murphy.

Thank you for watching Tennessee's Scholar's Bowl 2026.