>> Join us tonight as Belchertown High School goes up against Wahconah 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.

Once again high schools from throughout our region are going head to head in qualifying matches to see who can score enough points to finish in the top eight and compete in this season's championship tournament.

In tonight's matchup, we have returning season 64 champion Belchertown High School going up against Wahconah Regional High School.

Let's meet the teams starting with Wahconah Regional, coached by Matt Pecorari.

>> Hi, I'm Kaitlyn Spratt and I'm a junior at Wahconah Regional High School.

>> Hi, I'm Jocelyn Cole and I'm a senior at Wahconah regional.

>> Hello, I'm Alexander Post, I'm a junior at Waconia Regional High School.

>> I'm Charlotte Flanders and I'm from Waconia Regional High School.

>> And for Belchertown coached by Steve Vinu.

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

>> Hi, I'm Brandon Longe, I'm a sophomore at Boston High School.

>> Hi, I'm Shawn Lindsey, a junior from Belchertown High School.

>> Hi.

My name is Miles McNamara, and I'm a senior at Belchertown High School.

And I would like to shout out our alternates, Kian Lindsey and 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.

What is the first and last name of the cold hearted miser that is the main character, Belchertown.

Ebenezer Scrooge of A Christmas Carol?

Yes.

That's correct.

Next one, Wolfe Island, Amherst Island and the Toronto Islands can also can all be found in which of the five Great Lakes of North America.

Belchertown.

>> Lake superior.

>> I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

Our wahconah.

Because Belchertown answered that incorrectly.

You automatically get the chance to answer the question.

>> Ontario.

>> Lake, Ontario.

Yes.

That's correct.

In what system of the human body are tendons a part of?

Belchertown.

>> Skeletal.

>> Skeletal.

>> I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

All right.

Once again, can you answer muscles?

One of Newton's laws of motion states.

For every action, there is an equal Belchertown.

>> Third.

>> Yes, that is the third.

Law of motion.

After nearly three years of neutrality, the US declared war on Germany on April 6th, 1917.

During what conflict?

Belchertown.

>> World War one.

>> World War one.

Yes, that's right.

Spell the name of the US state whose capital city is Harrisburg.

Belchertown.

>> P e n n y v a n I.

>> Yes that's correct.

In mathematics I to the power of 14 is equivalent.

Belchertown.

>> Negative one.

>> To what?

Yes, that is correct.

Negative one minced is to Belarus as what city is to Poland?

Belchertown.

>> Warsaw.

>> In NCAA soccer, the goals measure eight feet in height.

And how many feet in width?

>> Wahconah 24 yard 24.

>> I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

Right.

Belchertown, can you answer 24, please?

Be more specific.

>> 24ft.

>> Yes, it's 24ft as opposed to yards.

That is correct.

During the period between 1979 and 1998, which of the then nine planets was the farthest from the sun?

Belchertown.

>> Yeah.

Pluto.

>> I'm sorry, that is incorrect.

Let me finish the question.

Was it Jupiter, Neptune or Pluto.

>> Pluto?

>> Correct answer is Neptune.

Pluto is closer than Neptune.

All right, let's move on with the next one.

When texting, the letters BRB are an abbreviation.

Belchertown.

>> Be right back.

>> If you are watching a sporting event that featured Mikaela Shiffrin, would you Belchertown skiing?

She would.

You would be watching skiing.

Yes, that is right.

According to mathematician Leonhard Euler, in a simpler in a simply connected polyhedron, the number of faces plus vertices.

>> Belchertown two.

>> Which of the following South American countries does not border Ecuador?

Is it Bolivia, Colombia or Peru?

Belchertown.

>> Well, I was thinking, okay, go ahead.

>> Bolivia.

>> Bolivia is correct.

Listen to these literary lines.

Life is a Game Boy.

Life is a game that one plays according to the rules there.

From the novel The Catcher in the Rye.

Belchertown.

>> Repeat, please.

>> Harper, Lee.

>> I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

All right.

Wahconah, can you answer the question?

>> John Steinbeck.

>> J.D.

Salinger is the right answer there.

Try this one.

In what classic table game do players take?

Turns removing wooden blocks.

Belchertown.

>> Jenga.

>> Yes.

Before they collapse.

That is correct.

A healthcare professional who provides basic patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse or licensed Belchertown pediatrician.

I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

Let me finish the sentence.

Under the supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse is called a CNA.

What are the letters CNA an abbreviation for?

All right.

Wahconah, can you answer?

Certified Nursing assistant is the right answer.

Principia.

a book about physics written by Isaac Newton, lays out his three laws of motion which resulted in the formulation of the law of universal gravitation.

Was this published in the 1500s, 1600s or the 1700s?

>> Belchertown 1600s.

>> 1687.

Yes.

That's right.

Name the capital city of the State of Kansas.

Belchertown.

>> Topeka.

>> Topeka is correct.

What is the sum of all of the integers?

One through ten?

Belchertown.

>> So it's.

>> I'm sorry.

Time is up.

Wahconah.

63.

>> 63?

>> 55 is the right answer.

And that marks the end of our challenge round.

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

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

We asked the team from Wahconah Regional, would you rather have an extra hour of sleep before school or an extra hour after school.

>> I would rather wake up an hour later and get out of school an hour later.

>> I would rather school started later and get out later.

>> I'd rather wake up later and get out of school later.

>> I would rather wake up later and get out of school later.

>> Let's move 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 and answer correctly.

You win five points.

Answer incorrectly.

However, your team loses five points.

Well, sightseeing across the United States.

In what US state will you find each of the following tourist attractions?

You have 90s starting right now.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Belchertown, Massachusetts Massachusetts is right.

The Mall of America.

Belchertown.

>> Minnesota.

>> Minnesota is correct.

Mount Rainier national park.

Belchertown.

>> Washington.

>> Washington is correct.

How about Waikiki Beach?

Hawaii is the right answer.

The Golden Gate bridge.

Belchertown.

>> California.

>> California is right.

Try Coney Island.

Waconia.

>> New York.

>> New York is right.

Cape Canaveral, Belchertown.

>> Florida.

>> Florida is right.

Hammonasset Beach State Park.

>> Belchertown, Connecticut.

>> Connecticut is correct.

Wrigley field Wahconah.

>> Massachusetts.

>> Correct answer there is Illinois.

Try Martin Luther King, jr.

National historic park.

Belchertown.

>> Alabama.

>> Correct answer there is Georgia.

Denali national park.

Belchertown.

>> Alaska.

>> Alaska is correct.

The French quarter.

Belchertown.

>> Louisiana.

>> Louisiana is right.

The L.L.

bean flagship store.

Belchertown.

Maine.

Maine is right.

The Motown Museum.

That would be Michigan.

Silverwood theme park.

Belchertown.

Idaho.

Idaho is correct.

Rocky mountain National Park.

Belchertown.

>> Colorado.

>> Colorado is right.

Vicksburg National military park.

Belchertown.

>> Virginia.

>> Mississippi is the right answer.

Try Times square.

Belchertown.

New York new York is the right answer.

But that bell marks the end of our first lightning round.

Let's move on now with the capitalization round.

That's 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.

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

All right, at the moment, Wahconah you are a bit behind, but that also gives you the first opportunity of the evening to pick a category and a point value.

What's it going to be?

>> General knowledge for 30.

>> General knowledge for 30 to qualify.

Take a look at your screens.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word goulash as a stew made with meat, assorted vegetables and paprika.

Please spell the word goulash.

I'm sorry.

Time is up.

Barry Belchertown, can you capitalize?

>> G o u l a s h.

>> Yes.

That's correct.

Let's move on in this category.

More with tricky words, beginning with the letter G. For ten points each, take a look at your screen once again.

First, gelatin is a noun defined as glutinous material obtained from animal tissue by boiling.

Spell the word gelatin.

>> G e l a t I n.

>> Yes.

That's right.

Next step.

Officially, one gigabyte of Ram in your computer is equal to 1,073,741,824 bytes of Ram spell the word gigabyte.

>> G I g a b y.

>> Yes that's right.

And finally, try this one.

A geneticist deals with a hereditary and variation of living organisms.

>> Spell geneticists g e n e t I c I.

>> Yes.

That's correct.

Nice job.

All right, Belchertown, your turn.

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

>> Math and science for 30.

>> Math and science for 30.

Oh, we have a video qualifier for this one, 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, I'm very proud of my Polish roots.

My dad was a Polish World War II refugee who immigrated to the US in 1947.

A Polish scientist, was awarded two Nobel Prizes in 1903 and 1911 to become the first person to win a Nobel Prize twice, and the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two scientific fields.

To qualify, name that scientist Marie Curie.

>> Yes.

That's right.

Very nice.

More about renowned Polish scientists for ten points each.

Once again, look at your screen first.

Nicolaus Copernicus was a Renaissance polymath who formulated a model of the universe that placed what at its center.

>> The sun.

>> In the mid 1600s, astronomer Johannes Hevelius devoted four years to charting the topography of what heavenly body through his telescope.

>> Or his baby, or Venus?

>> Mars.

>> Correct answer is the moon.

And finally, Wilhemina Ivanovska was a Polish astronomer.

In 1946, that is, she became the first astrophysics professor to teach in Poland.

Astrophysics is a science that employs principles of physics and chemistry in the study of astronomical objects and phenomena.

Spell the word astrophysics.

>> A t r o p y I cs.

>> Yes.

That's right.

Very nice job.

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

>> Literature for 30.

>> Literature for 30.

Here's your qualifying question.

Take a look at your screen.

The famous line all the world is a stage is an example of which of the literary devices that you see.

>> Metaphor.

>> Yes, metaphor is correct.

Let's move on in this category.

Sticking with literary devices, I'll provide an example of a literary device.

You identify the device from the list we give you.

These are for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen first.

Which literary device is Devices used in this sentence, she struck a streak of bad luck.

>> Hyperbole.

>> Hyperbole.

>> Consonance is the right answer.

Let's try this one.

Which literary device is used in this line?

Speech is silver, but silence is golden.

>> Hyperbole.

>> Antithesis is the right one there.

All right, finally, let's do this one.

This line was said to have come from former Texas Speaker of the House Gib Lewis.

This is unparalleled in the state's history.

Which literary device is used in that line?

>> Hyperbole.

>> That would be malapropism, he meant to say.

Unparalleled.

Good try though.

All right, let's move on to Belchertown.

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

>> Social studies for 30.

>> Social studies for 30.

Your qualifying question.

You picked the Westfield State University entrance exam question.

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

All right.

good luck.

Here we go.

Take a look at your screen.

This state's capital city sits on the river that has the same name as the state.

The city was named for a stone outcropping on the bank of the river used by early travelers.

Named the city and state.

>> Hartford, Connecticut.

>> Hartford, Connecticut.

>> I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

All right.

Wahconah regional.

Can you capitalize?

>> Chicago.

>> Little Rock, Arkansas is the right answer there.

All right, Wahconah, once again, your turn.

>> Arts and entertainment for 30.

>> Arts and entertainment for 30.

Your qualifying question once again, look at your screen name the 2024 musical fantasy film adapted from a 2003 Broadway musical and featured such characters as Glinda, Upland, and Elphaba.

Thropp.

>> Wicked.

>> That's right, let's move on.

Let's see if you can name more films from 2024 based on some of their characters.

These are for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen first.

This 2024 American action comedy film featured the lead character, Colt Seavers and Jody Moreno.

Name the film.

>> Fall.

>> Guy.

The fall guy is right.

Yes.

This 2024 romantic comedy horror film featured the lead characters Lisa and the creature named this film Lisa Frankenstein.

Yep.

That's right.

And finally, the 2024 second installment of this two part epic space film featured the lead characters Chani and Paul.

Atreides named the film.

>> Dune Part two.

>> Yes.

That's correct.

Nice job.

Okay, Belchertown, once again, your turn.

>> World events for 30.

>> Last of the 30s.

Here we go with the qualifying question.

Take a look at your screen.

Born in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, Franklin Pierce spent 24 years in Washington, DC, first as a representative, then a senator, and finally four years as president of the United States.

Name one year in the presidential term of Franklin Pierce.

>> 1853.

>> Yes, that's right, 1853 to 1857.

All right.

Let's continue with presidential years in the white House.

These are for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen first.

Born in Ohio in 1822, Rutherford B Hayes was educated at Kenyon College and Harvard Law School.

Name one year in the presidential term of Rutherford B Hayes.

1877 1877 to 1881 yes.

Born in Virginia in 1790, John Tyler assumed the presidency upon the death of William Henry Harrison, who had only served as president for 32 days.

Name one year in the presidential term of John Tyler.

>> 1843.

>> 1841 to 1845.

Yes.

And finally, John Adams was born in Braintree, Massachusetts, in 1735 and was also a founding father of the United States.

He served as president for one four year term.

Name one year in the presidential term of John Adams, 1799.

Yes.

1797 to 1801.

Very nice.

Wahconah.

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

>> Arts and entertainment for 25.

>> Arts and entertainment for 25.

Qualifying question with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.

The song Let It Go won the Oscar for Best Song in 2014.

The song was featured in what Disney animated film frozen.

Yes.

Frozen it is.

Several songs from Disney animated films have won an Oscar for Best Song.

I'll name the song and tell you the composer.

Lyricist.

You tell me the film for ten points each.

First, you'll be in my heart.

Music and lyrics by Phil Collins.

>> Tarzan.

>> Tarzan is correct.

Here's the next one.

Under the sea.

Music and lyrics by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.

>> Little mermaid.

>> Yes, Little mermaid is right.

And finally, this one is for five points.

Can you Feel the love tonight?

Music and lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice.

>> Lion king.

>> Lion King is right.

Very nice job.

Belchertown.

Once again.

Your turn.

>> Math and science for 25.

>> Math and science for 25.

To qualify.

The empirical rule is a guideline for data distributed in a normal bell shaped curve.

According to the empirical rule, in a normally distributed data set, approximately what percentage of data is within one standard deviation of the mean?

>> 68%.

>> Yes.

That's right.

Let's move on.

More with the empirical rule for ten points each in a normally distributed data set, what percentage of data is within two standard deviations of the mean?

>> 95%?

>> Yes.

That's right.

Here's the next one.

In a normally distributed data set, what percentage of data is greater than the mean?

>> 50%.

>> Nice job.

Yes.

And finally, this one's for five points.

According to the empirical rule in a normally distributed data set, what percentage of data falls between the mean and one standard deviation above the mean?

>> 34%.

>> Yes 34%.

Clean sweep.

Okay, once again, pick a category and a point value.

>> General knowledge for 25.

>> General knowledge for 25.

Here we go with your qualifying question.

If a certain event occurs biennially, how often does it occur?

Is it twice a year?

Every two years or twice a century?

>> Twice a year.

>> I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

Right.

Belchertown.

That gives you the chance to answer.

>> Twice a century.

>> The answer is every two years is what we're looking for.

And that marks the end of our capitalization round.

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

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

We asked the team from Belchertown High if you won the lottery, what's the first thing you'd buy?

>> I would buy a 32 ounce bottle of Heinz ketchup.

>> I'd buy two slices of American cheese from the Forest Deli and Chop Shop.

>> I would buy a toasted brioche bun with a light sprinkling of sesame seeds.

>> I would buy an eight ounce wagyu beef patty imported directly from Japan on a Fedex express flight.

>> Let's move on now to the final lightning round of the evening.

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

You know how this works.

Buzz in and answer correctly.

You win five points.

Answer incorrectly.

However, your team loses five points.

Well, we expect the answers to flow right out for this round.

Each short clue describes a word which contains the letters L, O, w in that order somewhere in it, as in the word flow.

You have 90s starting right now.

The opposite of above.

Belchertown.

>> Below.

>> Below is correct.

Silly entertainers in a circus.

Belchertown.

>> Clown.

>> Clown is correct.

Being pleasantly agreeable and free from tension.

Mellow is the right answer.

To proceed in line behind someone else.

Wahconah.

>> Follow.

>> Follow is right.

Roses and marigolds, for example.

Belchertown.

>> Flower.

>> Flowers is right where you put your head while sleeping.

Belchertown.

>> Pillow.

>> Pillow is correct.

Pigs often do this in mud for the pleasure of it.

Not in time.

Wallow is the right answer.

Another name for a firefly.

Wahconah glow.

Fly is the right answer.

These trees appear to be weeping.

Belchertown.

>> Willow.

>> Willow is correct.

Money you might earn at home for doing chores.

Belchertown.

>> Allowance.

>> Allowance is right.

A diagram used to illustrate the steps in a procedure.

Belchertown.

Flowchart is the right answer.

A skiing maneuver used for stopping.

Snowplow is the answer, characterized by a lack of speed.

Belchertown.

>> Slow.

>> Slow or slowpoke?

Sound of a cow.

Belchertown.

>> Below.

>> Yes.

That's correct.

A great wave or surge of the sea.

Below is the right answer there.

A device for moving snow with a vehicle plow is the right answer.

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

It also marks the end of our match.

We had a fun match up tonight.

I want to say to Belchertown, last year's winner, you came in strong once again.

Quick on the buzzer.

So congratulations to you.

You are squarely in first place.

It's a little bit early in the season, but there you are once again.

So we shall see what happens as the season goes on.

And to see the season's roster.

And for more information, be sure to log on to our web page at npr.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.

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.

>> Westfield State University has allowed me to grow and pursue my passion to become a neurologist.

I think the quality of education is invaluable.

>> Do you want to see when your schools match is scheduled?

Want to know who the past ASM champions are.

Have a question you'd like to see us ask?

Then log on to the.

As Schools Match Wits web page at npr.org, you can see this season's roster, a listing of past ASM champions, and even submit a question of your own, which may be used in a future episode.

It's all just a mouse click away.