>> Join us tonight as the quarterfinals come to an end as the fourth seed, Belchertown High School goes up against the fifth seed, Amherst Regional 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.

>> I've been able to take all these experiences and really build myself as a person.

You're treated like a young professional the second you walk in here.

We drop this beat like.

>> Hold up.

>> 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.

But in the playoffs, it is not just about the points anymore, it is about the win.

The qualifying matches are over and the playoffs continue.

Let's take a look.

As you can see, Conard High, East, Longmeadow High and Suffield High have won the first three quarterfinal matches and will move on to the semifinals In tonight's fourth quarterfinal matchup, we have Belchertown High School going up against Amherst Regional High School.

Let's meet the teams, starting with Amherst Regional High School coach by Chris Gould and Stefan Bechtold.

>> Hi, I'm Eli Perkins and I'm a senior at Amherst High School.

>> Hi, I'm Owen Howard and I'm a senior from Amherst Regional High School.

>> Hi, I'm Jessie and I'm a senior at Amherst High School.

>> Hi.

I'm Worry Davidovitch, and I'm a sophomore from Amherst Regional High School.

And I'd like to take a moment to name our alternates, Zackheim and Aaron Kennedy.

>> And for Belchertown High School coached by Steve Vernou.

>> Hi, I'm Brian Lynch, I'm a sophomore from Belchertown High School.

>> Hi, I'm Sean Lindsay, a junior from Belchertown High School.

>> I'm Naveen Berryhill and I'm a junior at Belchertown High School.

>> I'm Ken Lindsey, a junior from Belchertown High School, and I'd like to take the time to acknowledge the alternate Owen Lorenzo.

>> 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 Romania?

Belchertown.

>> Spain.

>> Let me finish the question.

Is it Bulgaria, Poland or Hungary?

All right.

Because Belchertown did not get the answer right.

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

Correct answer is Poland.

In the Disney Pixar animated movie Coco, aspiring musician Miguel is confronted with his family's ancestral ban on music.

In which of the following years was Coco released?

Was it 2015, 2017, or 2019?

>> Amherst 2017.

>> Yes.

That's correct.

Name the capital city of the state of Tennessee.

Belchertown.

>> Nashville.

>> Which one of the following choices belongs to?

The nervous system of the human body?

Is it the mandible, the lumbar plexus, or the rhomboids?

Belchertown.

>> Rhomboids.

>> I'm sorry.

That is incorrect, Amherst.

That gives you the chance to answer.

>> The lumbar plexus.

>> Yes, that is correct.

Which of the following three digit numbers is a prime number?

241, two, 59 or 273.

Belchertown 241 yes, that is correct.

The fellowship of the ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King are our three book series by J.R.R.

Tolkien.

>> Lord of the rings.

>> Known collectively as.

Yes, that is correct.

Which one of the following islands is not in the Indian Ocean?

Madagascar.

Canary Island.

Belchertown.

>> Canary Island.

>> Canary Island.

>> Or Mauritius was the last of that question.

And yes, Canary Islands, they're in the Atlantic Ocean.

Let's move on to this one.

Listen to this sentence.

The army determined that the deceased had died as a result of an accident.

In that sentence, what do the letters m e represent?

>> Belchertown medical examiner.

>> Yes.

That's correct.

Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, and Ted Williams were all athletes.

Belchertown.

>> Baseball.

>> Who played professional baseball.

Yes.

Grab your pens for this.

What percent of 150 is 900 Belchertown?

600%, yes.

Thank you.

That is correct.

To be more specific, what is the middle name of the author?

Louisa Alcott?

May is right.

In which year did the Treaty of Paris get signed that officially ended Belchertown, 17831783.

Let me finish the rest of that question.

For the people at home that officially ended the American Revolutionary War.

All right, let's move on to the next question.

Now, if you had demitasse spelled DEMITASSE, you would drink from it, write it or wear it.

>> Belchertown drink from it.

>> That is correct.

It is a small coffee cup.

Grab your pens for this.

A certain rectangle is 19ft long and 11ft wide.

Belchertown.

>> Here we go.

>> Yeah.

>> 209 what is the area of the rectangle?

209ft .

Which of the following chemical elements on the periodic table is not a noble gas, argon, hydrogen or helium?

Belchertown.

>> Hydrogen.

>> Hydrogen is correct.

An agreement in action, opinion or intent is called a concurrence spell.

Belchertown.

CONCURRENCE to spell the word concurrence.

Yes.

Which of the following was written by Margaret Mitchell?

The good earth.

A tree grows in Brooklyn.

Or gone with the wind.

Belchertown.

>> Gone with the wind.

>> Yes.

That's right.

Try this one.

Tehran is to Iran as Baghdad is.

To what other Asian country?

Belchertown.

>> Iraq.

>> Iraq is right.

Listen carefully.

If there are 12in in a foot, how many square inches are there in four square feet?

Belchertown.

>> 144.

Yeah.

So it's.

>> Two 576.

>> Two.

>> Please be more specific.

>> Square inches.

>> Yes, that is correct.

Let's move on to the next one of the fundamental laws governing chemical combinations.

The Law of reciprocal proportions states that the masses of two elements A and B, that combine with a fixed mass of a third element, C, are in the same ratio as the masses of A and B when they combine with what.

Belchertown.

>> Chemical bonding.

>> I'm sorry, that is incorrect.

Amherst.

That gives you the chance to answer.

>> C and B.

>> When they are combined with each other and that marks the end of the challenge round.

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

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

We asked our quarterfinalists, why do you think as schools match, wits is still important after 65 years.

>> Because it still lets people in the valley kind of have a team to identify with for these trivia competitions, which is something that doesn't happen for many of the other ones.

>> I think that it's important for kids to have a place to compete.

It's also close by, unlike some other things that I know.

>> Well, I just think it's really important for there to be local competition.

And I think it fosters community.

>> Well, they say knowledge is good.

And I think I tend to agree with that.

And I think school matchwits is a good, uh, exploration of people's knowledge.

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

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.

However, your team loses five points.

Well, now is the time to gain a few more points in the match.

Each answer in this round will rhyme with the word gain.

You have 90s starting right now.

You'll need to a locomotive to get one of these to move Belchertown train train is right.

It's a type of tropical cyclone Belchertown hurricane.

Hurricane is correct to keep oneself from doing or indulging in something.

Belchertown.

>> Refrain.

>> Refrain is right.

It's the country that sent Columbus, Belchertown.

>> Spain.

>> To America.

Spain is right.

A recurring and intense headache.

>> Amherst migraine.

>> Yes, migraine is right to hold someone back or limit their actions.

>> Belchertown restrain.

>> Restrain is correct.

A series of metal links connected to one another.

>> Belchertown chain.

>> Chain is right.

It's a painful injury to your ankle.

Belchertown sprain sprain is correct.com.gov and.edu.

Belchertown domain are examples of that domain.

Yes, the Wright brothers got to one to fly Amherst plane.

Yes, that is correct to deliberately refrain from an action such as voting Belchertown.

>> Abstain.

>> Abstain is right.

Liquid precipitation.

Amherst.

>> Rain.

>> To sing, dance or juggle Belchertown.

>> Entertain.

>> Entertain is right.

Vladimir Zelensky is its president.

Belchertown.

Ukraine is right to reach an end or a goal.

Belchertown.

Attain is correct.

Device in a sink to let water out.

Belchertown.

>> Drain.

>> Drain is right.

It's the state that once was part of Massachusetts.

Belchertown.

>> Maine.

>> Maine is right.

Ah!

That bell marks the end of our first lightning round.

Let's move on.

Now, with the capitalization round, where 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.

All right.

As the rules state, the team that is behind also gets the first chance to pick a category and a point value.

All right.

Amherst what's it going to be?

>> We do.

>> Math and science for.

>> 30.

>> Math and science for 30.

Here's your qualifying question.

You have picked the Westfield State University entrance exam question.

Answer the qualifier in all the category questions correctly and your team wins an additional ten points.

Good luck.

Take a look at your screens.

Ichthyology refers to the scientific study of what type of animal.

>> Fish.

>> Yes, fish is right.

Let's move on in this category.

More about the scientific study of things for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen first.

Which term describes the branch of biology that studies reptiles and amphibians?

>> Herpetology.

>> Herpetology is correct.

Next one.

The branch of biology that studies fungi.

>> Mycology.

Mycology.

>> Yes.

That's right.

And finally, what is the branch of study of biology that studies birds?

>> Ornithology?

>> Congratulations.

You got all the answers correctly.

That means that your team wins an additional ten points for the Westfield State University entrance exam question.

So congratulations.

All right, let's move on with Belchertown.

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

>> Social studies 30.

>> Social studies for 30.

Your qualifying question, beginning with the letter O. This form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons, derives its name from the Greek for few and to rule.

Name this form of government oligarchy.

Yes, that's right, sticking with forms of government that derive their names from Latin or Greek for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen first.

What form of government derives its name from the Greek for sacred hierarchy?

Hierarchy is correct from the Greek for two.

>> Hierarchy.

>> And finally from the Greek for without anarchy.

Yes, that is correct.

Nice job Amherst.

Once again, your turn.

>> World events for 30.

>> World events for 30. to qualify.

Take a look at your screen.

This man was serving as United States President when Japan surrendered at the end of World War Two.

>> Name him Harry Truman.

>> Yes.

That's right.

Let's move on.

Testing your knowledge of other wartime U.S.

presidents for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen.

First name this man who was the U.S.

president during the Mexican American War.

>> Polk.

>> Yes, James Polk is right.

This man was the U.S.

president during World War One.

Name him.

>> Woodrow Wilson.

>> Yes, you are correct.

And finally, name this man who was the U.S.

president during the Spanish-American war.

>> McKinley.

>> William McKinley.

Yes.

Very nice job.

Belchertown.

Once again, please pick a category and a point.

>> Value literature for 30.

>> Literature for 30.

Qualifying.

Question.

Take a look at your screens.

According to Arthurian legend, the sword Excalibur was forged and King Arthur was laid to rest on this mystical island whose name translates to Isle of Apples.

Name this island.

>> Avalon.

>> Avalon is right.

Let's move on.

More with mystical places and literature for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen first.

This mystical place in J.R.R.

Tolkien's Lord of the rings is home to, among other creatures, orcs, elves, and trolls.

Name this place.

>> Mordor.

>> Correct answer.

There is Middle earth.

Let's move on in Norse mythology.

This enormous, majestic hall, whose name means Hall of the slain, is located in Asgard.

What is its name?

>> Valhalla.

>> Yes.

That's right.

And finally, what mystical island which allegedly sank to the bottom of the ocean did Plato write about in the fourth century BCE?

>> Atlantis?

>> Yes, Atlantis is correct.

Amherst.

Once again, your turn.

>> Can we do general knowledge for 30?

>> General knowledge for 30 to qualify.

We have a video qualifier.

So please take a look at your screen.

>> Hi, I'm Victor Ambrose, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts, and co-recipient of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Here with your qualifying question.

microRNAs are short, non-coding RNA molecules that play a crucial role in regulation of gene expression.

To qualify.

What do the letters R and A stand for in molecular biology?

>> Ribonucleic acid?

Yes.

>> That's right.

Let's move on in this category.

More with biological abbreviations for ten points each.

First, DNA is a double helix molecule found in cells that stores genetic instructions for development function, growth, and reproduction.

What does the abbreviation DNA stand for?

>> Deoxyribonucleic acid.

>> Yes that's right.

Here's the next one.

CFCs are nontoxic nonflammable organic compounds that were used primarily as refrigerants, aerosol propellants, solvents, and foam blowing agents.

They were banned globally in 1989.

What does the abbreviation abbreviation CFC stand for?

>> Chlorofluorocarbons.

>> Yes that's correct.

And finally, APCs are specialized immune cells that ingest pathogens, process them into antigens, and display them on their surface via MHC molecules.

What does the abbreviation APC stand for?

>> No answer.

>> Antigen presenting cells.

So nice job on the other ones.

All right, Belchertown, your turn to please.

Once again pick a category and a point value.

>> Math and science for 25.

>> Math and science for 25.

Here we go with your qualifying question.

What is the first positive angle that is co-terminal with 40 degrees.

>> 400 degrees?

>> Yes, that's right.

Let's move on.

Sticking with trigonometry for ten points each.

First, what is the first negative angle?

That is co-terminal with 100 degrees?

>> -260 degrees.

>> Yes.

That's right.

What is the first positive angle that is coterminal with pi radians 180 degrees.

Correct answer there is three pi radians.

Let's try this one.

Finally, for five points what is the first negative angle?

That is coterminal with 25 degrees -335 degrees.

Yes that's right Amherst.

Once again, your turn.

>> Can we do arts and entertainment for 30?

>> Arts and entertainment for 30 lasted 30s to qualify.

Take a look at your screens.

What is the artistic name for this circular chart representing the relationship between primary, secondary and tertiary hues?

>> Color wheel.

>> Yes, that's right, let's move on.

Let's see what you know about colors and color theory for ten points each.

First, what are the three primary colors of paint?

>> Red, blue and yellow?

>> Yes, that's right on the primary color wheel.

What is the complementary color of blue?

>> Orange.

>> Orange is right.

And finally, sticking with the primary color wheel, what is the complementary color of red.

>> Green green.

>> Belchertown.

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

>> Social studies for 25.

>> Social studies for 25 to qualify.

Take a look at your screens.

The name of this state's capital translates from the French words for red stick.

Name the capital city and the state.

>> Louisiana.

>> I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

Amherst High School.

>> Louisiana and Baton Rouge.

>> Baton Rouge, Louisiana is the right answer.

Yes.

More with capital cities and their states for ten points each.

First, this state's capital was named for a noted member of the British gentry who initially established the lost colony of Roanoke, named the capital city and state.

>> Raleigh, North Carolina.

>> Yes, that is correct.

This state's capital was renamed in 1873 to honor the Chancellor of Germany named this capital city and state.

>> Bismarck, North Dakota.

>> Yes, that's correct.

And finally, this one's for five points.

This state's capital was originally a Massachusetts town, settled in 1754, but became the capital city of a new state in 1827.

Name the city and state.

>> Augusta, Maine.

>> Yes, that is correct.

Nice.

Amherst.

Once again, it is your turn.

>> General knowledge for 25.

>> General knowledge for 25 to qualify.

Beginning with CAT.

What was the name of the underground tunnels in ancient Rome with recesses where bodies were buried?

>> Catacombs?

>> Yes, catacombs is right.

Let's move on in this category.

More with words that begin with the letters C, a, T, A for five points each.

First, this type of boat has two holes.

>> Catamaran.

>> Catamaran is right.

Next.

This mechanical device is used to propel a projectile.

>> Catapult.

>> Catapult is correct.

This verb describes the process of systematically arranging or listing things.

>> Categorizing.

Categorizing.

>> Catalog is the right answer.

There.

A substance that enables a chemical reaction to proceed at a usually faster rate or under different conditions.

>> Catalyst.

>> Catalyst is right.

And finally this term is used in different regions of the US to refer to a very large cat, such as a cougar or lynx.

That would be the Catamount.

Let's move on once again with Belchertown, please pick a category and a point value.

>> What events for 25.

>> World events for 25 to qualify.

On December 7th, 1787, Delaware became the first of the original 13 colonies to ratify the US Constitution.

What New England state was the last of the original 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution on May 29th, 1790.

Was it Massachusetts, Rhode Island or Connecticut?

>> Rhode Island.

>> Sticking with the original 13 colonies for ten points.

First, which of the original 13 colonies was founded by Sir George Calvert, also known first as Lord Baltimore in 1634?

>> Maryland.

>> Maryland is right.

Which colony was founded by John Smith and Christopher Newport in 1607.

>> Say something.

>> Vermont.

>> Correct answer is Virginia.

Finally, this one's for five points.

Which colony was founded by Roger Williams in 1636?

>> Rhode Island?

>> Rhode Island, yes.

That's correct.

That marks the end of our capitalization round.

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

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

We asked our quarterfinalists, why do you think as schools match, wits is still important after 65 years?

>> It's been a lot of the community.

It's been a lot of people do something that they're not necessarily used to.

It's been existing for 65 years.

It's been established at this point.

>> That's what's much worse is important because of the trivia that it brings and the knowledge, probably because it has a local fan base of people who have participated or known someone who has participated.

>> I think the uniqueness of the show has kept it alive for so long.

>> Moving on now to the final lightning round of the match.

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

Buzz in and answer correctly.

You win five points.

Answer incorrectly.

You know what happens.

Your team loses five points.

Well, time to get your mind stretched out for this round.

Each of the following answers contains the letter sequence MIN somewhere in it, as in the word mind.

You have 90s starting right now.

A small freshwater fish.

>> Belchertown minnow.

>> Minnow is right.

A, D and B complex are examples.

Vitamins is the right answer.

A worker who digs for coal or gold.

Amherst minor miner is right.

Pink aquatic bird with long legs.

Belchertown.

>> Flamingo.

>> Yes.

That's correct.

A black rectangular block with white dots.

Amherst.

Domino is the right answer.

It's made up of 60s Belchertown and the minute is correct.

The third sign of the zodiac known as the twins.

Amherst.

>> Gemini.

>> Gemini is correct to mix with others at a social event.

Amherst.

>> Mingle.

>> Mingle is right.

To supply light to a room.

Belchertown.

>> Illuminate.

>> Illuminate is correct.

The cricket that befriended Pinocchio.

Belchertown.

>> Gemini.

>> Gemini is right.

A silver white metal with the atomic number 13.

Amherst.

>> Antimony.

>> Aluminum is the right answer.

The least quantity possible.

Belchertown.

>> Minimum.

>> Minimum is right.

Founding father.

Franklin.

Belchertown.

>> Benjamin.

>> Benjamin is correct.

To reduce or make something smaller.

Amherst.

>> Minimize.

>> Diminish is the right answer.

U.S.

place where nickels and dimes are made.

Belchertown.

Mint.

Mint is correct.

House flies, mice and rats.

Collectively.

Vermin is the right answer to remove or get rid of something.

Ah, correct answer.

There is eliminate.

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

It also marks the end of our match.

We have an adjustment to make.

In that last lightning round, we asked the question to reduce or make something smaller.

We were looking for the answer diminish.

However, Amherst High School gave the answer of minimize, which does fit and we will accept that answer.

The score is adjusted accordingly.

What a great match up though we had tonight.

Want to thank Amherst High School so much for just making it to the top eight, which is such a feat in and of itself.

So congratulations to you and also Belchertown defending champs.

Here you are once again fighting for it.

So job well done tonight and we shall see you again.

This ends the season 65 quarterfinals.

Who to believe that eight teams have now become four?

Let's take a look at our semifinals bracket.

As you can see.

Number one Conard, Belchertown, seated at four East Longmeadow, Suffield High School two and three, respectively.

So we will see what happens as we march forward to the end of our historic 65th season.

It all comes down to that final Four, but only two will make it to the championship match.

Who will it be to see this 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 time when the semifinals begin 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.