>> Join us tonight as the semi-finals conclude with number two seed East Longmeadow High School going up against number three seed Suffield High School.

The historic 65th season of Western New England's award winning high school quiz show continues tonight as schools match wits.

>> The members of the Massachusetts Teachers Association are working together to ensure that all students have the resources they need to succeed.

The MTA 180 years of commitment to the public, schools and colleges our communities deserve.

>> Do you step up on the block?

There's all this noise, and then you dive in and you're under the water and it's just you and the dive.

It's go time.

>> Good evening and welcome to as schools match wits coming to you from the campus of Westfield State University.

I'm your host, Beth Ward.

This season, high schools from throughout the region went head to head to try to score the most points for a chance to make it to the top eight in our first semifinal matchup.

Belchertown High beat Conard High and will move on to the championship match.

Who will join them?

We will soon find out.

In tonight's second semifinal matchup, we have East Longmeadow High School going up against Suffield High School.

Let's meet the teams starting with Suffield High coach by Christina DeAngelis.

>> Hi, my name is Mary Kay Moreno and I'm a senior from Suffield High School.

>> Hi, my name is Shannon and I'm a junior at Suffield High School.

Hi, I'm Ana and I'm a junior at Suffolk High School.

>> Hi, my name is Jane Kelly.

I'm a junior at Suffield High School.

And today we'd like to acknowledge our alternate fin captain.

>> And for East Longmeadow High School coach by Bill Phelan.

>> Hi, my name is Sharon.

I'm in the 12th grade and I'm from East Longmeadow High School.

>> Hi, I'm Logan Martinelli and I'm a junior at East Longmeadow High School.

>> Hi, my name is Jacob Maurer.

I'm a junior at East Longmeadow High School.

>> Hi, I'm Katie Powell and I'm a junior from East Longmeadow High School.

>> We start off each match with the challenge round.

Both teams will have a chance to buzz in and answer questions for ten points each.

Good luck to both teams.

Here we go with the first question of the evening.

Which of the following European countries does not border Switzerland, Belgium, Austria or Suffield, Belgium?

Yes that's correct.

In which of the following years did the New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams, 133 to win their sixth East Longmeadow 2018.

I'm sorry, that is incorrect.

Let me finish the question.

To defeat the Los Angeles Rams, 13 to 3 to win their sixth Super Bowl championship.

Was it 2015, 2017 or 2019 because East Longmeadow did not get the answer correct?

That means Suffield High School automatically gets the chance to answer Suffield.

>> 2019.

>> 2019.

Yes, you were close over here, East Longmeadow.

Let's move on.

Name the capital city of the state of Kentucky.

East Longmeadow.

>> Frankfort.

>> Yes, that's right.

In the human body, the aorta, spelled a ORTA, belongs to which of the following Suffield.

>> Circulative.

>> I'm sorry, that is incorrect.

Let me finish the question.

What does it belong to?

Which of the following human body system is it?

The nervous system, the digestive system, or the circulatory system?

All right.

East Longmeadow, can you answer?

>> Circulatory system.

>> Circulatory different circulatory system.

So we're going to move on to the next question.

Now, which of the following three digit numbers is a prime number 419 437 or 455.

East Longmeadow.

>> 419.

>> Yes.

That's correct.

Complete the name of this novel by Ann Brashares.

The sisterhood of the traveling.

What?

Suffield.

Pants.

Pants is correct.

In which of the world's oceans will you find the island of Java?

>> East Pacific.

>> I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

Suffield.

>> Indian?

>> Yes, Indian Ocean is correct.

Listen to the sentence.

The doctor determined that the patient's coughing was due to a URI in that sentence.

What do the letters URI represent?

Suffield.

>> Upper respiratory infection.

>> In what sport would the words header offside and free kick.

East Longmeadow.

>> Soccer.

>> Would be used in soccer.

Pick up those pens.

What is the measure of the third angle of a triangle?

If one angle measures 75 degrees and the other 80 degrees East Longmeadow.

>> 25.

>> Please be more specific.

>> 25 degrees.

>> Yes, that is correct.

What is the name of the current United States vice president?

>> Suffield, J.D.

Vance.

>> Yes.

That's right.

What is the middle name of Mary Shelley?

The author of the novel Frankenstein.

Suffield.

>> Wollstonecraft?

>> Yes.

That's right.

The Battle of New Orleans took place after a peace treaty was signed in Europe by Suffield.

>> Battle.

War of 1812.

>> Yes, that is correct.

Let me finish that question.

For the people at home.

It was took place after a peace treaty was signed in Europe by the combatants.

Ending what?

If you owned a bumper shoot.

Spelled BUMBERSHOOT, would you put laundry in it?

Keep dry from the rain with it or plant it in your garden.

East Longmeadow.

>> Can you drive from the rain with it?

>> Yes.

It's another word for an umbrella.

Nice job in the metric system.

8000g is equivalent to how many kilograms?

East Longmeadow?

>> Eight.

>> Yes, that is correct.

Which of the following chemical elements on the periodic table has the highest atomic number?

Is it gold, mercury or platinum?

East Longmeadow.

>> Mercury.

>> Yes, Mercury is right.

Name.

The American author of the 1939 novel The Grapes of Wrath.

>> John Steinbeck.

>> What is the name of the capital city of Switzerland?

>> Meadow burn.

>> Burn is correct.

Listen very carefully.

If the slope of a straight line is negative three, then what is the slope of a line which is perpendicular to that line?

East Longmeadow.

>> One third.

>> One third is correct.

Faraday's second law of electrolysis states.

When the same amount of electric current is passed through different electrolytes connected in series, the amount of substances discarded at the electrodes is directly proportional to their respective wat mass.

I'm sorry, that is incorrect.

Southfield High School can you answer?

>> Concentration.

>> Correct answer is the chemical equivalent or equivalent weight.

And that marks the end of our challenge round.

Let's take a moment now to meet the team from Southfield High School.

>> Hi, I'm Mackenzie from Westfield State University.

We asked our semifinalists what has been the best part of your as schools match wits experience?

>> My favorite part of this experience has been working with my team.

I feel like we've kind of become a little family.

And yeah, a school of teams are not really huge.

And so you just get to work together and have your after school meetings and it's just, yeah, a lot of camaraderie.

>> The excitement of competition is probably the most the best thing in my high school experience and just the excitement of winning as well.

>> I think what this competition facilitates, it's like a, it's a strong bond between the team.

Like you get to know who's good at literature, who's good at geography.

And I think the thing I like best about this is that it's enabled me to see all my teammates at their best.

>> I say just the competition.

I remember how nervous I was the first time I came on to her, and just how much I've grown since then.

It's been really amazing.

>> Moving on now to the first lightning round of the evening.

Each chance, each team will have a chance to buzz in and answer questions for five points each.

Buzz.

In answer correctly, you win five points.

Answer incorrectly.

Your team loses five points.

This round is raining cats and dogs.

Let's see how many cats and dogs from TV or film you can identify.

Let's have some fun with this one.

You have 90s starting right now.

Disney dog named for a dwarf planet Pluto.

Pluto is right.

This cat constantly torments the house dog.

Odie.

>> Garfield.

>> Garfield is correct.

Dog who reluctantly helped the Grinch Stole Christmas.

>> Max.

>> Max is right.

Star of Frosted Flakes commercials.

East Longmeadow.

>> Tony the tiger.

>> Tony the tiger is correct.

This cat became the Lion King.

Meadow.

>> Simba.

>> Simba is correct.

Saint Bernard named for a classical musician.

East meadow.

>> Beethoven.

>> Beethoven is correct.

This cat was a hit in catching fire.

Buttercup is the right answer.

Not in time.

The disappearing cat in Alice in Wonderland.

Suffield.

>> Yes.

That's right.

Wallace's best friend and loyal sidekick.

East Longmeadow.

Gromit is correct.

Mystery busting great Dane who hung with shaggy.

East Longmeadow.

>> Scooby-Doo!

>> Scooby-Doo is right.

The swashbuckling feline from Shrek.

Suffield.

>> Puss in boots.

>> Yes!

That's correct.

He is the big red dog of picture books and East Longmeadow.

Clifford and movies.

Yes, half of the duo with Ren Stimpy.

Stimpy is correct.

He was always at Dorothy's side in The Wizard of Oz.

>> Toto.

>> Toto is correct.

This Pokemon cat belonged to Team Rocket.

East Longmeadow.

>> Meowth?

>> Yes.

That's correct.

The beagle who is fed by Charlie Brown.

Suffield.

>> Snoopy.

>> Snoopy is correct.

This TV cat sets off on nature adventures with his friends.

East Longmeadow.

>> Nature cat is right.

This Disney dog fucked it up with Mickey Mouse.

That would be goofy.

However, that bell marks the end of our first lightning round.

East Longmeadow.

You really do know your cats.

60 points in that lightning round.

Let's continue now with the capitalization round.

Let's see what where we go with this.

That's where the teams get the chance to pick a category and a point value.

They'll need to answer a qualifying question first before they can continue on for points.

If they fail to answer that qualifying question correctly, their opponents will have the opportunity to capitalize and get those points.

At the moment, Suffield, you are behind also gives you the first opportunity to pick a category and a point value.

What's going to be.

>> Arts and entertainment for 30, please.

>> Arts and entertainment for 30.

To qualify, take a look at your screens.

Directed by Charles Martin Smith.

What 2019 film is described by this plot summary.

A dog travels 400 miles through the Colorado wilderness in search of her owner.

Named the film.

>> A dog's purpose.

>> I'm sorry, that is incorrect.

Can you capitalize.

>> A dog's journey?

>> A dog's way home is the right answer.

Good guesses on both sides, though.

All right, East Longmeadow, your turn.

First time of the evening to please pick a category and a point.

>> Value math and math and science for 30.

>> Math and science for 30.

We have a video question for you, so please take a look at your screen.

>> Hi, I'm Tony Smith, an entomologist with UMass extension here at the Durfee Conservatory.

With your qualifying question in 2025, Massachusetts saw the emergence of brood 14, a species of cicada which comes above ground once every 17 years.

Periodical cicadas are capable of emerging in population densities as high as 1.5 million insects per acre.

Because of this, predators like birds and small mammals that feed on the insects do not significantly reduce their population size.

To qualify, what is this phenomenon called predator, satiation, symbiosis or parasitism?

>> Predator satiation.

>> Yes.

That's right.

Let's move on.

Let's see how well you know the spelling of the names of some common insects for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen first.

Now that you know so much about the cicada, how about spelling the word cicada?

>> CICADA.

Yes.

>> That's right.

Here's the next one.

A grasshopper that's in a migratory phase of its life is more commonly known as a locust.

Please spell locust.

>> LOCUST.

>> That is correct with the UST?

Yes.

And finally, one of the most annoying summertime insects is the pesky mosquito.

We're going to test your spelling once again.

Spell mosquito.

>> MOSQUITO.

>> Yes, you are correct.

Nice job.

Suffield.

Once again, your turn.

>> We'd like literature for 30, please.

>> Literature for 30.

Here's your qualifying question.

You have picked the Westfield State University entrance exam question.

Answer the qualifier and all the category questions correctly.

Your team wins an additional ten points.

Good luck.

Take a look at your screens.

Name the tiny yet spirited fairy companion in James Matthew Barrie's 1911 novel.

Peter and Wendy.

>> Tinker Bell.

>> Tinker Bell, yes.

That's right.

All right, let's move on.

In this category.

Sticking with literary sidekicks, with what literary character do you associate each of these sidekicks for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen first.

Sancho Panza.

>> Don Quixote.

>> Don Quixote is the right answer.

Samwise Gamgee, Frodo Baggins.

That is correct.

And finally, how about Hermione Granger?

>> Ron Weasley?

>> Ron Weasley yes, that is correct.

You got all the answers correct.

Your team now wins an additional ten points for the Westfield State University entrance exam.

Congratulations to you.

Let's move on now with East Longmeadow.

Please once again pick a category and a point value.

>> Social studies for 30.

>> Social studies for 30 to qualify.

Take a look at your screen once again.

The chamber of the Bundestag, the lower legislative body of the German parliament, is shown here.

It is located in what building in Berlin.

>> The government building.

>> Good guess.

However, that is incorrect.

All right.

Suffield High School.

Can you capitalize the Reichstag?

Yes, the Reichstag is the right answer.

The Reichstag.

Let's move on.

Germany's national legislature is one of many bicameral governing bodies in the world.

All name the two houses that make up a certain country's Legislature.

You tell me the country for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen.

Here's the first one.

The Federation Council and State Duma.

>> Russia.

>> Yes, Russia is correct.

The House of Lords and House of Commons kingdom.

Yes.

That's correct.

And finally, how about the Council of States and the House of people?

>> Australia?

>> Correct answer there is India.

Nice job on the other ones.

All right, Southfield, once again, your turn.

>> Uh, general knowledge for 30, please.

>> General knowledge for 30.

We have a video qualifier for this question.

So please take a look at your screen.

>> Hi, I'm Congressman Richie Neal and I'm pleased to offer a qualifying question.

Born in Franklin, Massachusetts, this man worked to win reforms and public support for the schools in the United States.

In 1839, he founded the first public co-educational college in America that offered education without barriers to race, creed, or economic status.

This college is now known as Westfield State University.

to qualify.

What is the name of this man known as the father of the American public school.

>> Horace Mann?

>> Yes, Horace Mann is correct.

Nice job.

Let's move on with this category.

Educators who made a difference for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen.

First born in Agawam, Massachusetts, and Sullivan was a teacher best known for her work with a deaf and blind student.

Sullivan taught her students how to read, write and speak, and she remained her lifelong companion named Anne Sullivan's famous student, Helen Keller.

Yes, that's right, here's the next one.

This American science educator first became famous on TV in the 1990s as the science guy.

His approach to teaching science remains emphasized on fun, humor, and hands on experimentation.

Name this science guy, Bill.

>> Bill Nye.

>> Bill Nye yes, that's right.

And finally, try this one.

This pioneering Civil War nurse and founder of the American Red cross was a teacher first in 1837, at the age of 16, she began teaching at a one room schoolhouse in North Oxford, Massachusetts, where she was praised for producing well disciplined scholars without the need for corporal punishment.

Name this teacher and nurse.

>> Clara Barton.

>> Yes, that is correct.

Very nice job.

East Longmeadow.

Once again, please pick a category and a point value.

>> 30 or 25 world events for 30.

>> Going for it.

World events for 30.

Here's your qualifying question.

The US Presidential Cabinet serves as the primary advisory body to the president today.

In 2026.

There are currently 15 department secretaries in the cabinet as well as other appointed officials.

How many department secretaries were there in George Washington's cabinet?

Was it four?

8 or 12?

>> Four.

>> More about President Washington's cabinet for ten points each.

Take a look at your screens first.

This man served as Washington's Secretary of the Treasury.

His image also appears on the current U.S.

$10 bill.

>> Alexander Hamilton.

>> Yes.

That's right.

From March 2022, 19 1790.

That is to December 31st, 1793.

This man served as the first Secretary of State under Washington.

His image also appears on the current U.S.

$2 bill.

Name him.

>> Thomas Jefferson.

>> Yes.

That's correct.

And finally, this man initially served as the first U.S.

Attorney general and then as Secretary of state when Jefferson resigned in 1793.

Name him.

>> Aaron Burr.

>> Edmund Randolph is the right answer.

Great job on the other ones.

Suffield.

Once again, your turn.

>> Let's do literature for 25, please.

>> Literature for 25.

To qualify, which of the following deities from classical mythology was not a Roman god or goddess?

Mars, Hermes, Bacchus or Diana.

>> Yes.

That's right.

Let's move on.

In this category.

More with Greek and Roman deities.

I'll name a pair of gods or goddesses from classical mythology.

You tell me which one of the two is the Greek deity?

These are for five points each.

Here's the first one.

Demeter or series?

>> Demeter.

>> Hera or Juno?

>> Hera.

>> Hera is right.

How about Saturn or Cronus?

>> Cronus.

>> Cronus is correct.

Try Neptune or Poseidon.

>> Poseidon.

>> Poseidon is right.

And finally.

Eros or Cupid.

>> Eros.

>> Nice job.

All right.

Once again, please pick a category and a point value.

>> General knowledge for 25.

>> General knowledge for 25 to qualify.

If a certain event happens every two years, it's said to occur biennially.

Spell the word biennially.

>> Um, A lie.

>> I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

Southfield High School, can you capitalize BIENNALLY?

Very close.

Correct answer is BIENNIALLY.

All right, let's move on once again with Suffield.

Your turn.

>> Arts and entertainment for 25, please.

>> Arts and entertainment for 25.

To qualify, take a look at your screens.

The year 1750 saw the death of this great German composer and musician who was known for his instrumental compositions, the Brandenburg Concertos and the Goldberg Variations.

Was this Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel or Edvard Grieg?

>> Bach?

>> Yes, Bach is correct.

Let's move on more about some of the other great classical composers from history for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen first.

In 1824, at the end of the premiere of his Ninth Symphony, this composer had to be turned around to see the tumultuous applause of the audience because he couldn't hear them or the orchestra.

He was deaf.

Was this Mozart, Beethoven or Handel?

>> Beethoven?

>> Beethoven?

>> Yes.

That's right.

Russian Composers 1882 work.

The 1812 overture is traditionally played during the Boston Symphony's 4th of July concert along the Charles River, and finishes with a brass fanfare, a volley of cannon fire and church bell chimes.

Was this Grieg, Handel or Tchaikovsky?

>> Tchaikovsky.

>> Tchaikovsky is correct.

And finally, this one's for five points.

The 1984 movie Amadeus won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

The film is a fictional biography of the composer of such works as his opera The Magic Flute and his Requiem in D minor.

Was this Mozart, Tchaikovsky or Grieg?

>> Mozart.

>> Mozart?

Yes, that is correct.

And that marks the end of our capitalization round.

Let's take a moment now to meet the team from East Longmeadow High School.

>> Hi, I'm Mackenzie from Westfield State University.

We asked our semifinalists what has been the best part of your as schools match wits experience?

>> I think my best experience is just being able to participate in like such a big event.

>> Um, you know, like friends and hot dogs.

>> I'd say getting along with, you know, my teammates and like getting to know people from the other school.

It's, you know, been special.

>> Well, in my experience, I found the staff to be very kind.

And, you know, another thing is probably just the hot dogs.

>> Very close match to see who moves on.

So let us move on to the final lightning round of our second semifinal match this evening.

Each team will have a chance to buzz in and answer questions for five points each.

Buzz.

In answer correctly, you win five points.

Answer incorrectly.

You know what happens?

Your team loses five points.

How well do you know your collegiate mascots?

I'll name a university or college.

You tell me the name of their mascot.

You have 90s starting right now.

Ohio State University, Suffield.

>> Brutus.

>> Buckeyes is the right answer.

University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

East Longmeadow.

>> Wolverines.

>> Wolverines is right.

University of Oregon at Eugene.

Suffield.

>> Ducks.

>> Ducks is correct.

University of Alabama.

Tuscaloosa.

>> Crimson tide.

>> Crimson tide is right.

University of Florida at Gainesville.

>> Gators.

>> Gators is right.

Indiana University.

East Longmeadow Hoosiers is right.

Syracuse.

University.

>> Orange.

>> Orange is correct.

University of Massachusetts.

>> Minutemen.

>> Minutemen is right.

Duke.

University of Durham.

East Longmeadow.

>> Blue Devils.

>> Blue Devils is correct.

University of southern.

>> Trojans.

>> Trojans.

At Los Angeles.

Yes.

>> Longmeadow fighting Irish.

>> Fighting Irish is correct.

Boston College.

East meadow.

>> Golden Eagles.

>> Eagles is correct.

University of Georgia at Athens.

Suffield.

>> Bulldogs.

>> Yes.

That's right.

University of Connecticut.

East Longmeadow.

>> Huskies.

>> Huskies is correct.

>> Spartans.

>> University of California.

Suffield.

>> Bears.

>> Bruins is the right answer there.

University of Texas at Austin.

>> Longhorns.

>> Longhorns is right.

Springfield College at Springfield, Massachusetts.

Suffield.

Pride is the right answer.

Harvard University East Longmeadow.

Crimson Crimson is right.

Florida State University at Tallahassee.

Suffield.

>> Seminoles.

>> Yes.

That's correct.

Louisiana State University.

>> Tigers.

>> Tigers is right.

Ah, that bell marks the end of our last lightning round.

It also marks the end of a very close match.

Is anybody else on the edge of their seat during that last lightning round.

So much back and forth throughout the entire match.

I want to say Suffield High School, great job tonight and throughout the season.

I mean to show up at this point in the season.

Fantastic work and what a great match.

However tonight's matchup goes to East Longmeadow High School.

Congratulations to you.

It was just so close the entire way and you pulled it out.

Job well done to see the season's roster and for more information, be sure to log on to our web page@nepm.org, or you can look for us on Facebook and Instagram.

I'm your host, Beth Ward.

Good night, and be sure to tune in again next week when we find out who the season 65.

The historic season 65 champion will be.

Belchertown High versus now East Longmeadow.

We hope you stay with us.

That is next time on.

As schools match wits.

>> The members of the Massachusetts Teachers Association are working together to ensure that all students have the resources they need to succeed.

The MTA, a diverse union of education workers committed to the public, schools and colleges our communities deserve.

>> You can see the difference from the first couple of minutes that you walk onto this campus.

You realize that it's not just a campus, it's a community.

It's a family.