(upbeat music) - WVIA's Scholastic Scrimmage is made possible in part by.

(upbeat music) (air whooshing) 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 non-profit that provides over 70 scholarships a year to students.

The Luzerne Foundation, we are here for good.

(upbeat music) (upbeat music) - Welcome to the 19th season of WVIA Scholastic Scrimmage.

I'm your host, Paul Lazar.

(air whooshing) 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 Wyoming Area versus Wyoming Valley West.

Representing Wyoming Area are Jaxon Pollard, Mario Belzer, Kayden Dructor, and Brady Kerns.

Their alternates are Di Maloney and Emma Kratts, and their advisor is Molly Kerns.

Representing Wyoming Valley West, Aaron Gervin, Ben Zarah, Lily Romanowski and Heath Stuckla.

Their alternate is Anna Raki and their advisor is Robert Bonczewski.

Scholastic Scrimmage is a game of rapid recall of factual information, so let's take a minute 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 toss-up points, but will not receive a bonus question.

(air whooshing) Well, let's go ahead and get started with this toss-up question in Social Science.

Lee Harvey Oswald, suspected assassin of John F. Kennedy, was killed while being transferred from jail to an armored truck on November 24th, 1963.

Give the name of the assassin who shot Oswald.

(buzzer chimes) - Jack Ruby.

- Aaron, Valley West.

- Jack Ruby?

- Is correct, and here comes your bonus question.

Dramatist Eugene O'Neill was lauded for such works as the "The Iceman Cometh" and "The Great God Brown," but four of his plays won Pulitzer Prizes.

One of his award-winning plays was originally titled, "Chris Christopherson," but was later rewritten.

What was the title of the rewrite?

(buzzer chimes) - "Cat on a hot Tin Roof?"

- No, we're looking for "Anna Christie."

"Anna Christie."

Well, here's your next toss-up.

This one is social science.

Facing a force much superior to his own, he surrendered his 7,000 man army to General Washington at Yorktown on October 19th, 1781.

However, the formal peace treaty was not signed until 1783.

Name the general who surrendered.

(buzzer chimes) Jaxon, Wyoming Area.

- Cornwallis?

- Is correct.

And here comes your bonus question now.

This tropical tree was highly prized by the Aztec Indians.

The fruit is a pod which contains rows of seeds.

These pods are used in the production of cocoa butter, and chocolate.

What is the name of this tree?

(Kayden speaks faintly) (buzzer chimes) - Palm tree?

- No, we're looking for cacao.

Cacao.

(paper rustling) Here's your next toss-up in world history.

He was the second son of Charles the First who was tried by parliament and executed after the English civil wars.

He was a Stewart king of England who reigned briefly as the King of England, Scotland and Ireland until he was deposed by the glorious revolution in 1688.

Name this king, the last Catholic monarch of Great Britain whose reign was troubled by his Catholic affiliations.

(buzzer chimes) Aaron, Valley West.

- James the Fourth?

- Is incorrect.

Rebound to Wyoming Area.

(buzzer chimes) Jaxon.

- James the First.

- No, James the Second.

(Jaxon chuckles) James the Second.

Here's your next toss-up in astronomy.

It's the 10th brightest star in the sky and the second brightest star in the constellation of Orion.

Identify this red giant that's located at- (buzzer chimes) Aaron, Valley West.

- Betelgeuse?

- Is correct, (buzzer chimes) and here's your bonus question now.

He fled to Switzerland in 1933 when Adolf Hitler came to power.

Considered one of the master novelists of the 20th century, this German writer's works include "The Magic Mountain," "Buddenbrooks," and "Joseph and His Brothers."

Name this German author whose initials are T.M.

(buzzer blares) That author is Thomas Mann.

Thomas Mann.

Here's your next toss-up in sports.

In football, this trick play involves a ball carrier holding the ball over his head like he's going to pass, and then a teammate runs behind him and takes the ball.

What do we call this play?

(buzzer chimes) Ben, Valley West.

- Flea-flicker?

- Is incorrect.

We'll rebound it to Wyoming Area.

(buzzer chimes) - Option.

- No, the Statue of Liberty play.

Statue of Liberty play.

Well, here's your next toss-up in science.

This 17th century French astronomer was the first person to accurately measure the length of a one degree arc of the surface of the earth.

This calculation then helped him to compute the size of the earth.

He shares his last name with a fictional character from "Star Trek" who is the captain of the USS Enterprise E. Who is this famous French astronomer and priest?

(buzzer chimes) Aaron, Valley West.

- Picard?

(buzzer blares) - Picard is correct, and here comes your bonus question.

A newspaper publisher named Warren G. Harding was elected president of the United States in the first election after World War I.

In what year did that election take place?

(buzzer chimes) - 1922?

- No, we're looking for 1920.

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

(lightning crackling) In this segment, each team will have an opportunity to answer as many of the 12 rapid fire questions as they can in one minute.

Wyoming Valley West has won the coin toss and will pick first.

Your categories are, vocabulary or geometry.

- Vocabulary.

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

Identify these words that begin with the word car.

A doctor who specializes in diseases of the heart.

(buzzer chimes) - Cardiologist.

- Yes.

Goods carried by a ship, truck or airplane.

(buzzer chimes) - Cargo.

- Yes, a picture of a person in which certain features are exaggerated.

(buzzer chimes) - Caricature.

- Yes.

Any cancer causing substance.

(buzzer chimes) - Carcinogen.

- [Paul] Yes, the part of a gas engine that mixes air with the gas spray to create- (buzzer chimes) - Carburetor.

- [Paul] Yes.

The part of flowering plant where the seeds grow.

(buzzer chimes) - Skip.

- [Paul] Carpel.

The rotting flesh of a dead body.

(buzzer chimes) - Pass.

- Carrion.

A group of independent business agents who band together to control the supply and the price of a product for their best interests.

(air whooshing) (buzzer chimes) - Cartel?

- [Paul] Yes.

A loving and gentle hugger kiss.

(buzzer chimes) - Pass.

- [Paul] Caress.

The bony shell of a turtle.

(buzzer chimes) - Carapace.

- [Paul] Yes, a short light repeating rifle used by the military for hunting and dense brush.

(buzzer chimes) - Pass.

- Carbine.

An oblong metal ring with one spring hinge sign that is used to hold a freely running rope while mountain climbing.

(buzzer blares) That was a carabiner.

(paper rustling) All right, you did great in the lightning round there, Valley West.

Wyoming Area, we're coming over to you and your remaining category will be geometry.

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

Identify these facts associated with the field of geometry.

The number of degrees in each angle in an equilateral triangle.

(buzzer chimes) - 60?

- Yes.

The type of triangle for which the Pythagorean theorem is used.

(buzzer chimes) - Right triangle?

- [Paul] Yes, the smallest geometric shape having no length, width or height.

(buzzer chimes) - Pass - [Paul] Point.

The largest regular polygon that can fit inside a circle.

(buzzer chimes) - Square?

- Hexagon.

The shortest distance between two points.

(buzzer chimes) - Straight line.

- Yes.

A series of numbers in which each number is the sum of the two proceeding numbers.

(buzzer chimes) - Pass.

- Fibonacci sequence.

The ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter.

(buzzer chimes) - We pass, pass.

- [Paul] Pie.

A line that touches a circle that exactly two points and extends beyond the circle, because it's aligned and non-aligned segment.

(buzzer chimes) - Tangent?

- [Paul] Secant.

The sum of the interior angles of a Pentagon.

(buzzer chimes) - Pass.

- [Paul] 540 degrees.

The Greek mathematician who calculated the value- (buzzer chimes) - Pythagoras?

- No.

Archimedes, Archimedes.

All right, and that's going to do it for the lightning round and after that, we have Wyoming Valley West on top of Wyoming Area, 65 to 25.

And now we're going to go ahead and move into the second quarter with this toss-up question.

His plays deal with the complexity of human relationships.

What 20th century American dramatist's works include "Silent Night, Lonely Night," "I Never Sang for My Father," "Come Marching Home," and "Tea and Sympathy."

(buzzer blares) Okay, that was Robert W. Anderson.

Here's your next toss-up.

This one in mythology.

In Greek mythology, he was the brother of Agamemnon.

Helen of Troy was his wife, who was the central figure of the Trojan War?

(buzzer chimes) Aaron, Valley West.

- Hector?

- Is incorrect.

We'll rebound to Wyoming Area.

(buzzer chimes) - Zeus?

- No, Menelaus.

Menelaus.

Your next toss-up is in physics.

This value in physics is the force multiplied by the perpendicular distance from the line of action of force to the access of rotation.

This force that is measured in Newton-metres or pound feet causes an object to rotate around an access.

(buzzer chimes) - A torque?

- Heath, Valley West.

- Torque?

- Is correct.

(buzzer chimes) And here comes your bonus question.

He's credited with constructing the hanging gardens of Babylon and the Ishtar Gate into the inner city.

Which Babylonian King was the son of Nabopolassar?

(buzzer chimes) - Nebuchadnezzar?

- Is correct, for your bonus points, Valley West, great job.

We'll move on now to a toss-up in U.S. geography.

This historic character who's often featured in Western novels sentenced 160 people to death over his 21-year career.

Because of this, he was nicknamed the Hanging Judge.

Who was this notorious judge?

(buzzer chimes) Jaxon, Wyoming Area.

- John Marshall?

- Is incorrect.

We will rebound it to Valley West.

(Ben speaks faintly) (buzzer blares) That was Judge Isaac Parker.

Judge Isaac Parker.

Here's your next toss-up in science.

In geology, this term is the name given to a mountain pass between two peaks that have been created by glacial erosion.

In meteorology, the same term refers to a region of slightly elevated pressure between two anticyclones.

What is this three-letter science term?

(buzzer chimes) Ben, Valley West.

- Run?

- Is incorrect.

Rebound to Wyoming Area.

(buzzer chimes) - Arc?

- Mario.

- Arc, A-R-C?

- No, we're looking for col, C-O-L. Let's move on to a toss-up now in astronomy.

When astronomer supplied the theoretical model in the early 1960s, which proved that the surface of Venus was indeed hot prior to NASA's Venus missions.

(buzzer chimes) Heath, Valley West.

- Carl Sagan?

- Is correct, and here comes your bonus question.

This play by Moliere has often been referred to as "The Impostor" or "The Hypocrite."

The play's plot involves organ, who takes in this hypocrite, for whom the actual title of the play is named?

Its strong satirical overtones cause the French King to ban the performance of this play for five years, fearing that it would offend the clergy.

Name this play that shares its name with its main character.

(buzzer blares) That was "Tartuffe."

"Tartuffe."

Let's move on now to a toss-up in cinema.

This American filmmaker, actor and comedian has had a career spanning over 60 years.

His accolades are numerous.

So who wrote the screenplay for "Bananas," "Annie Hall," and "Stardust Memories?"

(buzzer blares) That was the one and only Woody Allen.

Well, that sound that you heard signals the end of the first half and we're now going to give our contestants a little 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 Wyoming Area and Jaxon will come to you first.

Tell me what your favorite film is and why.

- "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," I think it's really funny.

- That was actually a documentary.

(contestants laughing) - (laughs) Thanks, Jaxon.

Mario.

- "Die Hard," because many people think that it's not a Christmas movie.

- Me, too.

- We're gonna talk after the show.

(contestants laughing) Kayden.

- "Across the Spider-Verse," because I love the animation style and the storyline.

- Thank you.

Brady.

- "Borat," 'cause my friends force me to watch it.

(contestants laughing) - Thanks for being here, Wyoming Area, Valley West, coming over to you.

Aaron, what's your favorite film and why?

- My favorite film's "The Tomorrow War."

It's this really great sci-fi action film with Chris Pratt.

- [Paul] Oh, excellent, sounds really cool.

Thanks, Aaron.

Ben.

- I like "The Mask" with Jim Carrey.

- Good film.

Lily.

- "A Silent Voice," because it made me cry and it still does.

(contestants laughing) - [Paul] Movies will do that to you sometimes.

(contestants laughs) Heath.

- "Interstellar" is my favorite.

- That's great.

- I like the soundtrack, and it looks really good.

- It's a great flick.

It really is.

Thank you all for being here today.

It's nice to see you all again, and we'll now go ahead and begin the third quarter with this toss-up question.

In golf, what do we call a short shot made close to the green.

(buzzer chimes) - Chip.

- Mario, Wyoming Area is correct.

(buzzer chimes) And here's your bonus question.

He's known for works such as "Jude the obscure," "Far from the Madding Crowd, "Tess of the d'Urbervilles," and "The Woodlanders."

Identify the English author who created maps of Wessex for his readers.

(contestant speak faintly) - I don't know.

(buzzer chimes) - Keits?

- No, Thomas Hardy.

Thomas Hardy.

Here's your next toss-up in social science.

Established in the 70s, these policies regulate the hiring practices of businesses and institutions with regards to minorities and women.

(buzzer chimes) Brady, Wyoming Area.

- Affirmative action?

(buzzer chimes) - Is correct, and here comes your bonus question.

Basel Ransom was a political conservative from Mississippi.

He falls in love with and eventually marries a feminist.

What was Basel Ransom's profession in the Bostonians?

(buzzer chimes) - Politician?

- No, we're looking for a lawyer.

Lawyer.

Let's move on to a toss-up now in dance.

If a ballerina executes an even numbered entrechat, how will she land?

(buzzer chimes) Heath, Valley West.

- On two feet.

(Lily laughs) - Is correct, (buzzer chimes) and here comes your bonus question.

Lake Chicot in Arkansas is an example.

What type of lake is defined as a U-shaped lake that forms when a river carves- (buzzer chimes) Heath, Valley West.

- And oxbow lake?

- Is correct for your bonus points.

Very good.

Your next toss-up is in sports.

This Los Angeles Dodgers Catcher tells his life story in his autobiography, "It's Good to Be Alive."

Here in fame is the most valuable player for the National League in 1951, 1953, and 1959.

Name this outstanding athlete, who was also the second African American to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

(buzzer chimes) Aaron, Valley West.

- Clemente?

- Is incorrect.

Rebound to Wyoming Area.

(buzzer chimes) Brady.

- Robinson?

- No, Roy Campanella.

Roy Campanella.

Well, here comes your next toss-up.

This one in botany.

What specific type of bromeliads are sometimes called air plants, because they take most of their moisture and nutrients from the air.

(buzzer chimes) Kayden, Wyoming Area.

- Succulents?

- Is incorrect.

I'll finish the question and rebound it to Valley West.

From the air or from decaying plant material around the roots.

(buzzer blares) Those are epiphytes.

Epiphytes.

Here's your next toss-up in theater.

The Oxford dictionary defines this gerund or present participle as acting dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain advantage in a game or examination.

In theater, it involves using a movement or position that may not be realistic, but which give the audience the opportunity.

(buzzer chimes) Kayden, Wyoming Area.

- Cheating?

- Is correct, and here comes your bonus now.

The minotaur was kept in the labyrinth, which was beneath King Minos' Palace.

What was the name of the palace?

(buzzer chimes) Brady.

- Midas' Palace.

(contestants laughing) - No, we're looking for Knossos.

Knossos.

Your next toss-up is in science.

The United States launched its first space shuttle in 1981, and continued to develop a total of six shuttles, although only five (buzzer chimes) ever flew in space.

Which of these shuttles participated in the final shuttle mission in 2011?

(buzzer chimes) Heath, Valley West.

- Endeavor?

- Is incorrect.

Rebound now to Wyoming Area.

(buzzer chimes) - Challenger?

- No, the answer was Atlantis.

Atlantis.

Well, that sound that you heard signals the end of the third quarter (lightning crackling) and another lightning round.

This time, Wyoming Area will pick first.

Your categories are, American history or cinema.

- American history.

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

Let's go to war.

Name the current American state in which each of these revolutionary war battles was fought.

Battle of Bunker Hill.

(buzzer chimes) - Massachusetts.

- Yes.

Battle of Ticonderoga.

(buzzer chimes) - New York?

- Yes, Kings Mountain.

(buzzer chimes) - New Hampshire?

- South Carolina.

First Battle of Bull Run.

(buzzer chimes) - Virginia?

- [Paul] Yes, Battle of Lexington.

(buzzer chimes) - New Hampshire.

- [Paul] Massachusetts.

Battle in Siege of Charleston.

(buzzer chimes) - South Carolina?

- Yes, Battle at Saratoga.

(buzzer chimes) - New York?

- [Paul] Yes, Battle at Camden.

(buzzer chimes) - New Jersey.

- [Paul] South Carolina.

Siege of Yorktown.

(buzzer chimes) - New York.

- Virginia.

Battle of Long Island.

(buzzer chimes) - New York.

- Yes, Battle at Cowpens.

(buzzer chimes) - Pennsylvania?

- South Carolina.

Battle at Trenton.

(buzzer chimes) - New Jersey.

- That's correct.

All right, Wyoming Area, great job there in the lightning round.

We're going to move on over now to Valley West, and your remaining category will be cinema.

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

Fill in each of the following blanks with a number to complete the name of a movie title.

The blank commandments.

(buzzer chimes) - 10.

- Yes.

Blank below.

(buzzer chimes) - 10.

- Eight.

Catch blank.

(buzzer chimes) - 22.

- [Paul] Yes, blank samurai.

(buzzer chimes) - Four.

- Seven.

Slaughterhouse blank.

(buzzer chimes) - Nine?

- Five.

The magnificent blank.

(buzzer chimes) - Seven?

- [Paul] Yes, blank men and a baby.

(buzzer chimes) - Three.

- [Paul] Yes, miracle on blank street.

(buzzer chimes) - 10th?

- 34th.

The hobbit, the battle of the blank armies.

(buzzer chimes) - Pass.

- Five.

"Around the World in Blank Days."

(buzzer chimes) - 80.

- Yes, "Apollo blank."

(buzzer chimes) - 13?

- Yes, "The blank Stooges."

(buzzer chimes) - Three.

- Yes.

All right, excellent job in the lightning round.

Both teams did a very impressive job, and after that, we currently have Wyoming Valley West in the lead over Wyoming Area, 140 to 90.

And we're now going to go ahead and begin the last segment of the game with this toss-up question in music.

What popular song by Alicia Keys contains these lyrics?

"All I, all I ever wanted was a dollar and a chance.

Find, find what I'm made of, all right."

(buzzer chimes) - This girl's on- - Mario, Wyoming Area.

- This Girl's on Fire.

- Is incorrect.

Rebound now to Valley West.

(buzzer chimes) - Empire state of mind.

- No, "Love Looks Better."

"Love Looks Better."

Your next toss-up is in mythology.

What man-eating Cyclops and son of Poseidon trapped Odysseus and his men in his cave.

(buzzer chimes) Aaron, Valley West.

- Polyphemus.

(buzzer chimes) - Is correct, and here comes your bonus now.

What type of bird makes a mysterious visit to a man who's lamenting the loss of Lenore, his true love?

(buzzer chimes) - Raven?

- Is correct, for your bonus points.

Lily, very, very good.

Your next toss-up question is in anatomy.

Our bones become stronger and tougher because of high impact exercise.

What do we call this strengthening process?

(buzzer chimes) Ben, Valley West.

- Compounded?

- No, rebound to Wyoming Area.

(buzzer chimes) - Working out?

(Kayden laughs) - No, the answer we're looking for was hypertrophy.

Hypertrophy.

Your next toss-up is in world history.

On February 24th, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine resulting in the biggest attack on a European country since World War II.

What country welcomed about 1.7 million of the fleeing Ukrainians during the first weeks- (buzzer chimes) Aaron, Valley West.

- Poland.

- Is correct.

(buzzer chimes) And your bonus now.

Located northwest of downtown Los Angeles, it was originally laid out as a city that would be based on sober religious principles.

Today, it's home to features such as Mann's Chinese theater, the Wax Museum, and the Walk of Fame.

Name this California city that has become famous for its filmmaking.

(buzzer chimes) - Hollywood.

- Is correct, for your bonus points, Valley West, as we move on now to a toss-up in theater.

One was a playwright and one was a famous composer.

Name this duo who worked together from 1871 to 1896 to create many popular operas such as H.M.S.

Pinafore.

(buzzer chimes) Aaron, Valley West.

- Rodgers and Hammerstein?

- Is incorrect.

I'll finish and rebound to Wyoming Area.

Utopia, Limited and Thespis.

(buzzer chimes) Brady.

- Charkowsky?

- No, Gilbert and Sullivan.

Gilbert and Sullivan.

Our next toss-up is in music.

She began her career in contemporary Christian music before crossing over to the pop genre.

She's won numerous music awards, both Grammy and Dove awards.

(buzzer chimes) - Taylor Swift?

- Lily, Valley West.

- Taylor Swift?

- Is incorrect.

I'll finish the question and rebound it to Wyoming Area.

What American singer and songwriter is married to country singing star, Vince Gill?

(buzzer blares) That's Amy Grant.

Amy Grant.

Here's your next toss-up in computer science.

This computer term that refers to the horizontal measurement of the number of letters that could be printed in an inch is also the name for a card game.

Identify this five-letter term that can also refer to how high or how low a musical note is.

(buzzer chimes) Heath, Valley West.

- Pitch.

- Is correct, and here comes your bonus question now.

How many seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are needed for a political party to gain control of the house?

(buzzer chimes) Aaron.

- 218.

- Is correct, for your bonus points, Valley West, as we move on to a toss-up in world history.

In late 1854, this nurse organized (buzzer blares) a team of 34 nurses.

(buzzer chimes) Aaron, Valley West.

- Clara Barton?

- Is incorrect.

I'll finish the question and rebound it to Wyoming Area.

- Florence Nightingale?

- Florence Nightingale is correct for your rebound points, Wyoming Area.

And that's the end of the game.

And our winner tonight in the Battle of the Wyomings is Wyoming Valley West over Wyoming Area, 185 to 100.

Congratulations, Wyoming Valley West, you're gonna be moving on, and we'll see you next time with another round of Scholastic Scrimmage.

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

(upbeat music) - [Announcer] WVIA Scholastic Scrimmage was made possible in part by.

(upbeat music) 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 non-profit that provides over 70 scholarships a year to students.

The Luzerne Foundation, we are here for good.

(upbeat music)