Tennessee Scholars' Bowl.

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.

The high school academic tournament now in its 42nd season.

And today we are in the threshold of 32, which means that the winner of today's game advances to the smart 16.

Will it be the Patriots of Jefferson County High School in Dandridge, or the Blue Devils of Harriman High School in Harriman, which is in Roane County?

Let's say hi to those Jefferson County Patriots, including several returning players.

Tell us about yourself, Zackary Matheny.

Well, my name is Zackary Matheny, of course.

And my two main hobbies are walking and flash cards.

I'm really passionate about spaced repetition.

And I'm wondering, though, you have to concentrate on walking.

You wouldn't do a flashcard while you're out walking.

I do if I'm on the treadmill, but if I'm somewhere else, I'm not able to do that.

Oh, good.

Let's say hi to Amy Stansbury, who's in 12th grade this year.

So its your final season on Scholars' Bowl, Amy.

Welcome back.

Tell us about yourself.

Sorry.

Hi.

I'm Amy Stansbury.

I'm in our school's, band.

I'm one of the captains.

Yeah.

And I'm in our school's production of the senior play, which is ‘Mamma Mia!

this year.

As band captain, do you direct conductor or do you play an instrument?

I'm one of our section leader captains, so, like, I'm over the woodwinds, and I have someone else with me.

What instrument specifically is yours?

I play the flute, but I'm over high woodwinds, so it's, clarinet and flutes.

Let's say hi to team captain Elaine Zang, also in 12th grade now.

So it's good to see you again.

Elaine.

Tell us about yourself.

Hello.

I'm Elaine and that two hobbies I love listening to J-pop and musicals too.

As team captain, you're going to answer bonuses or defer by name to a teammate.

But you know.

Youve been here before.

Very good.

Another returning player is 12th grader Isabella Broadwater.

Hi, Isabella.

How are you?

I'm good.

Tell us about yourself.

I like putting together puzzles and taking photos.

So puzzles like jigsaw?

Yeah.

Jigsaw puzzles.

Also crossword puzzles.

I've put together, like five, 1000 pieces.

Oh, Well, you got my attention with crossword puzzles.

I love crossword puzzles.

How good are you at crossword puzzles?

I can usually solving about less than 15 minutes.

Oh, man.

All right, we got to talk later.

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

We've got Grace Roberts, Hannah Elrick, Audrey Silas and Alex Thomas, joined by coach Ray Pedigo, who teaches chemistry, physics, math reasoning and calculus to those Patriots at Jeffco.

Taking on the Blue Devils from Harriman High School in Harriman, Tennessee.

Let's say hi first to senior Austin Watson.

Hey, Austin.

Welcome back.

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Austin Watson, and, I like to read biographies.

Name a few of famous people that maybe I would have heard of that you've read about.

Well, currently, I'm working through a book about Al Gore.

Okay.

Former Vice President.

Certainly.

I heard of him.

Another Tennessean, of course.

Sure.

Let's say hi to Caleb Griffin, who is a sophomore.

Tell us about yourself, Caleb.

My name is Caleb Griffin from Harriman High School, and I play the snare drum in our school's marching band.

Let's say hi.

The team captain, Brylee Christopher, who is a senior.

Welcome back.

Brylee, what about yourself?

I play tennis.

You're good?

Eh.

You like it?

I love it.

I have a lot of fun with my friends.

That's mainly why I'm there.

Oh, good.

All right.

Well, glad to have it.

Remember, as a team captain, you're going to answer bonuses or defer by name to a teammate.

And Natalie Griffin is here.

Your Caleb's sister.

Tell us about yourself, Natalie.

My name is Natalie Griffin, and I work at Domino's.

Oh, that's cool.

How fast are you at making a pizza?

Well, it always depends, but it only can take me, like, 2 or 3 minutes.

Domino's used to have a national competition for the fastest pizza maker.

I would not win.

Okay, let's say hi to the alternates or Harriman High School and the coach.

We got Mary Cannon, Casey Bagwell, Colt Poly, Trevor Gibbs, and coach Mike Holler, who teaches chemistry to those Blue Devils.

You know how this works.

Tossups worth 10, bonuses worth 20.

Players, get your fingers on the buzzer for this threshold of 32 round game of Tennessee Scholars' Bowl 2026.

Tossup for all players in religion.

In which city is the nine domed Saint Basil's Cathedral?

Isabella.

Jerusalem.

Not it, you can steal, Harriman.

That's in Moscow.

Tossup now in foreign language.

What are the French words for “the king”?

Zack.

Le roi.

Yeah, and a foreign language bonus now for Jeff County.

Name two of the European countries where Catalan is spoken Spanish.

Spain and Portugal.

Spain is right.

But it's actually the other side.

It's France, Andorra and Italy.

That's ten points.

Tossup now in vocabulary.

Hot is to warm as cold is to...?

Zack.

Cool.

And a vocab bonus for Jefferson County.

What is the seven letter word for the wreckage of a ship or its cargo found floating on or washed out of the sea?

Defer to Zack.

Flotsam.

Is right.

Now, what is the six letter word for material or goods that have been thrown overboard from a ship and washed ashore?

Defer to Isabella.

Jetsam.

Yeah, jetsam is right.

20 in the bonus.

Tossup in science.

What is the name of the law stating that pressure increases as the volume- Zack.

Boyle's law.

-Volume of gas decreases?

Thats Boyle's Law.

Science bonus.

A compound pulley and a hydraulic screw are among the inventions credited to which Greek scientist, who has been called the father of theoretical mechanics?

Archimedes.

Right for 20.

Tossup in history.

Which former U.S.

president was named William J. Blythe III until he was 15 years old and moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas?

Austin.

Bill Clinton.

Is right.

History is your bonus.

What was John F Kennedy highest military rank prior to serving as president?

Lieutenant.

That's right.

In the Navy.

And what was Dwight D Eisenhower's highest military rank prior to serving as president?

The Supreme Allied Commander.

Well I needed the rank on that, which would be simpler and would be just general.

Ten points on the bonus.

Tossup in art.

What is the ten letter word beginning with C that means a drawing which exaggerates the physical features of a person?

Zack.

Caricature.

Right.

And a visual art bonus for Jefferson County.

Look at the screens, please.

Who was the artist in the self-portrait shown here?

Frida Kahlo.

Right for 20.

Tossup now in literature.

Who is actually the central character in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar?

Elaine.

Brutus.

Right.

Literature.

Bonus.

Two parts.

In Hamlet, which two characters escort Hamlet on the voyage to England?

Horatio and Marcellus.

No, it's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

What was the name of the dead court jester whose skull is exhumed in act five, scene one?

We're not there yet.

Horatio.

I take it you're reading hamlet currently?

In act five, it's Yorick.

Alas, poor Yorick.

Tossup for all players in sports.

Which city's Major League Baseball and National Football League teams are each named for a different bird?

Zack.

Philadelphia.

Not it, you can steal, Harriman.

That's Baltimore.

They got the Ravens and the Orioles.

No points on that.

Tossup in health.

What is the word for a human embryo after eight weeks of development?

Zack.

Placenta.

Not it.

You can steal, Harriman.

Riley.

Fetus.

Yes, and a health bonus now.

Two parts.

What are the fibrous connective tissues that attach bone to bone?

Tendons.

No, that's ligaments.

What are the fibrous connective tissues that attach muscle to bone?

Tendon.

That's right.

Ten.

Tossup in government.

What word is used to mean the temporary release of an accused person- Zack.

Bail.

-Awaiting trial, sometimes on the condition that a sum of money may be large to guarantee their appearance in court?

Government bonus for Jeffco.

In 2025, an executive order instructed U.S.

federal agencies to begin using what new name for the oceanic basin south of Louisiana?

Gulf of America.

Right for 20.

Tossup in games.

How many dots are there in total on a standard- Zack.

24.

-On a standard six sided die.

Chance to steal, Harriman.

Natalie.

18.

No, thats 21 dots on that.

Tossup in English.

What five letter word beginning with A is a synonym of loathe?

Brylee.

Adore.

Not it, you can steal, Jeffco.

Zack.

A test.

No, I needed abhor.

Which is the synonym.

You gave me the antonym.

No points on that.

Math tossup.

If a 5 pound package of boneless chicken breasts at the supermarket costs $14.70, what is the cost per pound?

Zack.

$2.94.

Is right.

Math is your bonus.

If your monthly rent is $1,500, but your landlord gives you a 10% discount for paying for a full year in advance.

What was your discounted annual rent?

1350.

No, it's 16,200.

Yeah, yeah.

Now it makes sense.

Tossup for all players in astronomy.

Which planet in our solar system is nearest the sun?

Elaine.

Mercury.

And an astronomy bonus.

Take a look at the screens, please.

Which of the Apollo 11 astronauts shown here walked on the moon?

Neil Armstrong.

Yeah?

Buzz Aldrin.

Yeah, you got those both in there, 20 points.

Tossup in geography.

What is the capital of Michigan?

Brylee.

Lansing.

And a geography bonus for Harriman.

Two parts.

What is the capital of Iowa?

Des Moines.

And the capital of Kentucky?

Frankfort.

Both right.

20 points.

Tossup in music.

What collective term is used for signs in music to raise or lower tones or cancel a previous- Amy.

Accidentals.

-Sign change?

Music bonus for Jeffco.

Two parts.

What does the musical term ‘legato mean?

Defer to Amy.

Connected.

Yes.

Smooth and connected.

And what does the musical term ‘a tempo mean?

Defer to Amy.

Same tempo as before.

Yeah.

Resuming the previous tempo.

We'll take that.

20 on the bonus.

Tossup in mythology.

What was the name of the mythical Greek god of music, poetry and purity?

Elaine.

Apollo.

Right.

Mythology bonus.

A robot tour guide inside illustrated cave in northern Greece is named for which mythical character, who was the daughter of Zeus and was abducted by Pluto to be his wife?

Persephone.

That's right for 20.

Tossup in spelling.

Purgation means the spiritual cleansing of a soul- Zack.

P-U-R-G-A-T-I-O-N.

Is purgation, and a spelling bonus.

Spell agnostic, meaning a person who claims neither faith nor disbelief in God.

I have it if you need it.

Defer to Amy.

A-G-N-O-S-T-I-C.

Is agnostic.

That's 20 points.

Tossup in chemistry.

What is the term for a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction?

Natalie.

Catalyst.

And chemistry bonus for Harriman.

Name four of the seven elements classified as noble gases.

Neon, Argon, Xenon, and Helium.

All four of those are correct.

It's a Helium.

Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon, Radon, Oganesson.

20 points.

Tossup in economics.

What is a basic type of financial product at a bank, credit union, or other financial institution that earns interest on money not intended to be spent- Isabella.

Bond.

-Not intended to be spent immediately.

Chance to steal, Brylee.

Savings account.

Is right, and an economics bonus.

Other than the European Union, which is a non enumerated member, name four of the seven G7 nations.

Answer.

Germany, Poland, Spain, France.

Germany and France are both right.

So you get ten points on that.

It's Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States.

Ten points.

Tossup in technology.

What is the primary piece of circuitry in a computer into which the other components are connected?

Amy.

Motherboard.

Technology bonus.

Who won the 1952 presidential election, which was the first time a computer predicted the outcome?

Defer to Isabella.

JFK.

That's Eisenhower in 52.

What was the name of the computer that correctly predicted the outcome?

Turning computer.

That's the Univac.

No points on the bonus.

Tossup in literature.

What character talk to the animals in the fictional English village of Puddle B on the Marsh?

That time is up on that.

Doctor Dolittle.

Doctor John Dolittle is the guy at the end of our first half of play.

Looks like Jefferson County is trying to pad the lead a little bit.

Make sure that they have a safe passage.

Harriman High School can easily catch up in our second half of play.

The winner advances to the smart 16.

We'll find out who it's going to be after the break on Tennessee's Scholars' Bowl 2026.

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

The championship team in this year's Scholars' 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 in 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 threshold of 32 round game between the Patriots of Jefferson County High School in Dandridge and the Blue Devils of Harriman High School in Roane County right now.

And Jeffco has the lead, and they're keeping their starting lineup intact.

Harriman ready to catch up, and they brought an alternate into the game.

Let's say hi to sophomore Casey Bagwell.

Hi, Casey.

Tell us about yourself.

I'm Casey Bagwell from Harriman High School, and at one point, I studied country flags.

That's a good thing to study, especially for this show.

What are the most interesting ones you remember?

I remember a lot of the ones from, like, Central Africa were pretty interesting.

Oh, yeah.

They've got all sorts of interesting colors and emblems.

Yeah.

Fascinating stuff.

Good.

Meanwhile, everyone else is set to go, right?

Everyone get their fingers back on the buzzer for this threshold of 32 round game of Tennessee Scholars' Bowl 2026.

Tossup in algebra.

What is the equation of the line with a slope of one fourth and a Y intercept of -6?

Elaine.

One fourth X minus six equals Y. That's correct.

Algebra is your bonus.

Solve the equation.

One half X plus Y equals two or X if the value of Y is 12.

-20.

That's right.

20 points.

Tossup in geology.

What type of igneous rock solidifies below the Earth's surface?

Amy.

Bedrock.

Not it, you can steal, Harriman.

Natalie.

Granite.

Intrusive.

Tossup now in world history.

Rome was spared further destruction in 452, when Pope Leo the Great held a meeting with which leader of an invading barbarian group?

Elaine.

Akilla.

No, chance to steal, Harriman.

You can't look at each other either.

It's Attila the Hun.

I couldn't give it to you.

Tossup now in architecture.

What is the horizontal structural member that supports the load of a floor or ceiling between main beams?

Zack.

Stint.

Not it, you can steal, Harriman.

Austin.

A column.

That's called a joist.

J-O-I-S-T.

Tossup in foreign language.

What is the Spanish word for the number seven?

Natalie.

Siete.

Right, and a visual bonus in language.

Take a look at screens, please.

What word is represented here by American Sign Language Fingerspelling?

Answer.

Love.

No.

That's.

Read.

R-E-A-D.

No points on the bonus.

Tossup in vocabulary.

What nine letter word starting with A means similar in a way that invites comparison.

Zack.

Analogous.

That's right.

Spelling bonus for you.

Spell “analogous.” A-N-A-L-O-G-O-U-S.

Right for 20 points.

Tossup for all players in biology.

Which 19th century American Czech biologist and Catholic friar is known as the father of modern genetics- Zack.

Carl Linnaeus.

-For his study of the variation in plants?

Chance to steal, Harriman.

That is Mendel, Gregor Mendel.

No points.

Tossup in geography.

What is the capital of the United Kingdom?

Brylee.

London.

And a geography bonus for Harriman.

Prague is the capital of which country?

Croatia.

No, that's Czechia or Czech Republic.

Brussels is the capital of which country?

Belgium.

Right for ten.

Tossup now in sports.

How many periods are in a typical hockey game?

Elaine.

Four.

No, chance to steal, Harriman.

Brylee.

Three.

And a sports bonus for Harriman.

In which sport is the Ryder Cup awarded?

Defer to Austin.

Golf.

Golf is right.

And the Ryder Cup is played between team USA and what other team?

The UK.

Team Europe is the other team.

Ten points on the bonus.

Tossup in arts.

What is the term for a speech delivered by a character alone on stage revealing- Natalie.

Monologue.

-Revealing their inner thoughts.

Chance to steal, Jefferson County.

Zack Soliloquy.

Soliloquy is it, and an arts bonus.

Which musical includes the songs Surrey with the Fringe on Top and People Will Say We're in Love?

Rent.

That one is Oklahoma.

Part two, on which play was Oklahoma based?

Rent.

If you look at the script for Oklahoma it's says, “Based on ‘Green Grow the Lilacs.” Tossup in geometry.

Point T bisects line segment AB.

What is the length of AB if AT equals 14.8- Zack 32.8.

-14.8cm?

Chance to steal, Harriman.

Brylee.

29.6.

Is right, and geometry is your bonus.

The measures of three angles of a quadrilateral in degrees are 105, 95, and 60.

Find the fourth angle measure.

Answer 300.

3?

No, no, it's only 100.

Oh, you knew it after you said it didn't you?

No points there.

Tossup in chemistry.

What is the metabolic process that breaks down sugars like glucose to release energy in the absence of oxygen?

Isabella.

Glycolysis.

Not it, you can steal, Harriman.

Natalie.

Photosynthesis.

No, fermentation is what I was describing.

Tossup in government.

The main body of the US Constitution is divided into seven parts called what?

Zack.

Articles.

That's right, and a visual bonus.

Take a look at the screens in government.

What words did the letters in the acronym D.A.R.E.

represent in the logo shown here?

Defer to Zack.

Drug alcohol recreational education.

Oh man, they're so mad at you right now.

You have no idea.

It's the, “Drug Abuse Resistance Education.” Oh, yeah.

Tossup in religion.

What is the only miracle of Jesus that is recounted in all- Zack.

The feeding of the 10,000.

Not it.

And all four gospels?

Chance to steal, Harriman.

Natalie.

Walking on water.

It's the feeding of the 5000.

Zack gave away too much bread.

Tossup for all players in English.

What five letter word beginning with I describes phrases like “make the bed” or “change your mind” that cannot- Austin.

Idiom.

Yeah, cannot be understood from the literal meaning?

English bonus for Harriman.

Is the verb active or passive in the sentence?

“I will introduce you to my boss this week.” Active.

Yes.

Is the verb active or passive in the sentence, “The money was stolen.”?

Passive.

Also right, 20.

Tossup in vocabulary.

The phrase chicken out, which is a familiar way to say lose one's nerve- Zack.

Colloquialism.

Is an example of colloquialism, and a spelling bonus.

Spell “colloquialism.” Okay, okay, I think I have this one, but it might not be right.

I'm definitely close.

I think this is it.

I'm pretty sure.

Yeah, yeah.

Defer to Amy.

C-O-L-L-O-Q-U-I-A-L-I-S-M.

That's right.

20 points.

tossup Now in physics.

What is the term used to identify the point of no disturbance of a standing wave?

Zack.

Equilibrium.

No, chance to steal, Harriman.

That's a node.

N-O-D-E.

Tossup in history.

Which former first lady served as a delegate to the U.N.

General Assembly- Zack.

Edith Wilson.

-And helped draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

Chance to steal, Harriman.

I think U.N.

It's Eleanor Roosevelt, Tossup in music.

Whose Symphony No.

6 in F major.

Op.

68 is also known as the Pastoral Symphony?

Natalie.

Mozart.

Not it, you can steal, Zack.

Beethoven.

Is right, and a music bonus now.

Who composed the German opera ‘The Flying Dutchman?

Defer to Zack.

Richard Wagner.

Wagner.

Yeah, we'll take it.

And Richard Wagner composed music during which musical period?

Classical.

No, romantic.

Ten points on the bonus.

Tossup in foreign language.

What is the Spanish word for “Friday”?

Zack.

Miér.

No, chance to steal, Harriman.

Brylee.

Viernes.

That's right, and foreign language bonus now.

What is the Spanish word for “belt”?

Like you wear around your waist.

Answer.

Thats a “cinturón.” What is the Spanish word for “dress,” like you would wear?

Defer to Natalie.

Vestido.

Yes, that's right, ten points on the bonus.

Tossup in math.

What is the value of 18 squared added to the square root of one?

Casey.

325.

Right.

Math is your bonus.

What is the next number in the sequence 4, 16, 8, 32, 24, 96?

Answer 48.

No, it's 88.

I think we're doing a times four minus eight on that over and over again.

88 is the answer.

Tossup in health.

What is the term- actually that's the end of the game.

We don't have time for that question because Jefferson County has held on to win with an almost mirror image score of Harriman.

Against a great Harriman team.

We do appreciate you guys being here.

Blue Devils hope to see your underclassmen again.

So who is it we never get to see again, ever?

Just you, Brylee?

Me and Austin.

Okay, well, thanks for being here.

We appreciate you, and Brylee, anything you want to say as you hit the door?

Y'all played great.

You impressed me a lot.

And I'm very proud of my team, too, because a lot of us have come out of our shells a lot and got involved, and I'm very happy with that.

Good.

Yeah, we're always happy to have you guys on TV, so I hope you watch the episodes with your old family and enjoy seeing yourselves.

That's great.

Meanwhile, Jefferson County with those Hawaiian shirts.

I guess we're going to see those again.

Some familiar territory for you as you advance to the smart 16.

Elaine?

Especially in the first half.

I was really impressed with the capitals, knowledge of capitals, because that's not something I know, and especially for my team, I'm glad that they can fill in the gaps in my knowledge, too.

That's the definition team right there, isn't it?

Well, we can see Jefferson County again and you can see all of our teams as you keep track.

And don't miss an episode, check the listings on your local PBS website, or you can binge watch past seasons online using the PBS app.

My name is Frank Murphy.

Thank you for watching Tennessee Scholars' Bowl 2026.