>> Join us tonight as Westfield High School goes up against Pioneer Valley Christian Academy, the historic 65th season of Western New England's award winning high school quiz show begins 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.

>> 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.

>> 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 Westfield High School going up against Pioneer Valley Christian Academy.

Let's meet the team starting with Pvca coached by Rob Hill.

>> Hi, I'm Sadie Keegan from Springfield, Massachusetts, and I am a junior at Pvca.

>> My name is Jada Mugisa and I'm from Springfield, Massachusetts.

I'm a junior at Pvca.

>> Hi, I'm Lynn Rowland from West Springfield, Massachusetts, and I'm a junior at Pvca.

>> Hi.

I'm Abby Carollo from Windsor, Connecticut, and I'm a junior at Pvca.

I'd also like to acknowledge our alternates, Rachel Kaye and Charlie Kaye.

>> And for Westfield High School, coached by John Tyler.

>> Hi, I'm Mirabella Prefontaine, and I'm a senior at Westfield High.

>> Hi, I'm Kelsey Blaze, and I'm a junior from Westfield High School.

>> Hi, I'm Ethan gay.

I'm a sophomore at Westfield High.

>> Hi, I'm Andy Liu and I'm a senior from Westfield High.

And I would also like to thank our alternates, Brandon Tchaikovsky and Sharon Gurung.

>> Let's kick off our historic 65th season with as we do the challenge Round.

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

All right, let's begin with the very first question of the season and the match.

What Asian nation's two largest islands are named?

Honshu and Westfield?

>> Japan.

>> Japan didn't have to finish that one.

Yes.

In what system of the human body is the esophagus?

A part of Westfield Digestive.

Digestive is right.

Name the 11 letter US states name that only requires four different letters to spell it.

Westfield, Mississippi.

>> Mississippi?

>> Yes, Mississippi is correct.

Which area of the physical science studies heat, work, temperature, and their relation to energy and the properties of matter?

Pine Valley.

>> Physics.

>> I'm sorry, that is incorrect.

All right, Westfield High School, that gives you the chance to answer the question.

>> Thermochemistry.

>> Thermal thermodynamics is the right answer there.

Let's move on with the next one.

The Battle of New Orleans took place during what 19th century US War, Pioneer Valley.

>> The War of 1812.

>> Yes, that's right, the lion, the witch and the wardrobe is one of the seven novels which make up the series of books known as The Chronicles of Narnia Pioneer Valley.

>> Yes, I was going to ask who was the author?

Nice job.

If an angle has a complement of 40 degrees, what is the measure of the supplement of that angle?

Pioneer Valley.

>> 140.

>> Degrees.

I'm sorry, that is incorrect.

Westfield High School.

Can you answer 130 degrees?

130 degrees?

Yes.

Is the right answer.

Budapest is to Hungary.

As what city is to Romania?

Westfield.

>> Bucharest.

>> In the game of basketball, how far is the free throw line from the plane of the face of the backboard?

12ft.

15ft or 18ft.

Pioneer Valley.

>> 18ft.

>> I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

Westfield.

>> 12ft?

>> 15ft is the right answer there, which is the lunar phase immediately before a new moon?

Is it a waning crescent, a waning gibbous, or a waxing crescent?

Pioneer Valley, waning gibbous?

I'm sorry, that is incorrect.

Westfield High School.

>> Waning crescent.

>> Waning crescent.

Yes.

That's right.

When texting the letters Lmlk or an abbreviation for Pioneer Valley.

>> Let me know.

>> Let me know is right.

If you are using claves, would you be climbing a mountain, building a house, or playing a musical instrument?

Westfield.

>> Playing a musical instrument?

>> Yes.

That's right.

What is the value of sine?

30 degrees.

>> Westfield one half.

>> Yes.

That's right.

Which of the following Asian countries does not border Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan or India?

Pioneer Valley India?

Yes, India is correct.

Listen to this literary line.

It was the best of times.

It was the worst of times.

It's the opening line of A Tale of Two Cities.

By what?

Pioneer Valley, G.K.

Chesterton.

I'm sorry.

Good guess, but that is incorrect.

Westfield High School, can you answer?

>> Ernest Hemingway.

>> Charles Dickens is the right answer.

In this board game, players are settlers who score one point for each Pioneer Valley.

>> Settlers of Catan.

>> Yes.

That's correct.

My favorite game, actually.

Nice job.

An emergency procedure on a person who is no longer breathing or whose heart Westfield CPR.

No.

Let me finish the question.

Or who is no longer breathing or whose heart has stopped beating is called CPR.

What do the letters CPR represent?

All right, Pioneer Valley Christian Academy, can you answer?

>> Sir?

>> Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is the right answer.

Close.

Let's move on with the next one.

Nicolaus Copernicus is often credited with proposing the first heliocentric model of the universe in his great work on the Revolutions of Heavenly Spheres.

Was that work published in the 1300s, 1400s, or 1500s.

Pioneer Valley.

>> 1500.

>> Yes.

That's right, 1543.

Name the capital city of the State of Idaho.

Westfield.

>> Boise.

>> What is the slope between the coordinates?

Three five, two seven.

Westfield.

Negative two plus negative two is correct.

Listen to the sentence.

An analgesic works by blocking pain signals in the nervous system or by altering the body's perception of pain.

Spell the word analgesic.

>> Pioneer Valley a n a y g e s I c.

>> I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

All right, Westfield High School.

Can you answer.

>> A n e l l g e s I.

>> Very close.

However, the answer is a n a l e s I. All right.

Nice try on both accounts.

And that does mark the end of our challenge round.

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

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

We asked the team from Westfield High.

What's your favorite cereal?

>> My favorite cereal is Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

It is the best cereal hands down, and nothing even comes close.

>> Um, my favorite cereal is Cocoa Krispies because I ate them, like, for a whole month straight, and they were really good.

>> My favorite cereal as a child was definitely Fruity Pebbles.

Um, and controversially, I like them soggy.

>> My favorite cereal is Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

>> 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.

Answer correctly.

You win five points.

Answer incorrectly.

Your team loses five points.

Well, time to sharpen your brains for this round.

Each answer contains the letter sequence p, e, n somewhere in it, as in the word sharpen.

You have 90s starting right now.

A devilish creepy Snake Valley serpent.

Yes, that's correct.

A place for swine to roam.

>> Westfield Pigpen.

>> Pigpen is correct.

Edgar Allan Poe's pit and the what?

Pine Valley.

>> I don't know about that, guys.

>> Pendulum is the right answer there to place your trust in someone.

Westfield.

>> Depends.

>> Depend is right to bring an apple to maturity.

Pine Valley.

>> To ripen.

>> Ripen is right.

Flightless aquatic birds of the Southern Hemisphere.

Westfield.

>> Penguin.

>> Penguin is right.

A dark green chili pepper.

Westfield.

>> Jalapeno.

>> Yes.

That's correct.

To stop a game temporarily due to weather.

Westfield.

>> Suspend.

>> Suspend is correct.

Popular ski resort town in Colorado.

Westfield.

>> Aspen.

>> Aspen is right.

A polygon of five angles and five sides.

Pine Valley.

>> Pentagon.

>> Pentagon is correct.

Not closed.

Open is right to pass into something.

Penetrate is the right answer.

A portable enclosure for a baby and its toys.

Pine Valley.

>> Playpen.

>> Playpen is correct.

Another term for overturning an object.

Westfield.

>> Upend.

>> Yes.

That's correct.

Holding in football is one of these.

Westfield.

>> Penalty.

>> Penalty is right place for relief pitchers to warm up.

Not quite in time.

Bullpen is the right answer.

To change due to regret or contrition are the answer to that is repent.

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

We continue 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.

At the moment, Pioneer Valley Christian Academy is a little bit behind.

That also means they get the first opportunity to pick a category and a point value.

What's it going to be?

>> We'll take general knowledge for 30, please.

>> General knowledge for 30.

Here we go with your qualifying question.

It looks like we have a video qualifier.

So please take a look at your screen.

>> Hi I'm Tim from the Freedom Trail in Boston with your qualifying question.

The 15th sight along the Freedom Trail, located in the Charlestown Navy Yard, houses the oldest commissioned warship that first launched in Boston in 1797.

The ship earned the nickname Old Ironsides during the War of 1812, when she fought and won against the British HMS Guerriere.

To qualify, what is the name of this beloved warship?

>> I just guess.

>> I'm sorry.

Time is.

>> Up.

All right, Westfield high school.

Can you capitalize.

>> The USS Washington?

>> USS Constitution is the right answer there.

All right, Westfield, your turn.

First time in the evening.

Do please pick a category and a point value.

>> Social studies for 30.

>> Social studies for 30.

Here we go with your qualifying question.

You have picked the Westfield State University entrance exam question, answer the qualifier and all of the category questions correctly, and your team will win an additional ten points.

Good luck.

Here we go with the question what is the capital city of the African country of Somalia?

>> Mogadishu.

>> Mogadishu.

Yes, that is correct.

More with African capital cities.

This time we'll show you the outline of the country and name the capital city.

You tell me the name of the country.

For ten points each, take a look at your screen.

Here's the first one.

Khartoum.

>> Khartoum, Sudan.

>> Sudan Sudan Sudan is correct.

Next one.

Cairo.

>> Egypt.

>> Egypt is right.

And finally, how about Kinshasa.

>> Democratic Republic of the Congo?

>> Yes, that is correct.

Very nice job.

You won the Westfield State University entrance exam question and your team wins an additional ten points.

Congratulations to you.

All right, let's move on now with Pioneer Valley Christian Academy.

>> We'll do arts and entertainment for 30, please.

>> Arts and entertainment for 30.

Here's your qualifying question.

What is the full name of the 2025 movie with the following plot synopsis for misfits find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the overworld.

>> The microphone.

>> The Minecraft movie.

>> Yes, that is correct.

Let's move on.

Let's see who you know from the cast of minecraft movie.

These are for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen first.

Garret.

The garbage man garrison is a struggling video game store owner and former game champion named the actor who plays this role Jason Momoa.

Yes, that's right.

Here's the next one.

Marlene is the vice principal of Douglas High School, who tries to avoid lawsuits upon accidentally hitting someone with her car.

Name the actress who plays this role.

>> Don't know.

>> Jennifer Coolidge is the right answer.

Finally, let's do this one.

Steve is a former door knob salesman who has spent years living in the overworld.

Name the actor who plays this role.

Jack Black yes, Jack Black is correct.

Nice job.

Westfield.

Once again.

Your turn to pick a category and a point value.

>> Math and science for 30.

>> Math and science for 30.

Here's your qualifying question.

Take a look at your screens and grab your pens for this one.

What is the equation of the horizontal asymptote of the rational function on your screen.

>> Five.

Cool.

>> I'm sorry.

Time is up.

Pioneer Valley.

Can you capitalize?

>> Um.

One half.

>> I'm sorry.

Correct answer is y equals zero.

All right, let's move on with Pioneer Valley Christian Academy.

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

>> We'll do literature for 30, please.

>> Literature for 30.

Here's your qualifying question.

Name the main character in J.D.

Salinger's 1951 coming of age novel The Catcher in the Rye.

>> Do you know.

>> Jane?

>> I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

Westfield High School.

Can you capitalize Holden Caulfield?

Yes, that is correct.

Let's move on.

More with identifying characters in classic novels for ten points each.

First, in John Steinbeck's 1939 novel The Grapes of Wrath.

What is the name of the protagonist who is the second son of the poor uprooted Oklahoma family?

>> I haven't read this book in a while.

>> John.

>> Good guess.

Tom Joad of the Joad family is the right answer there.

Here's the next one.

In Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel gone with the wind.

What is the name of the spoiled daughter of a Civil War era Georgia plantation owner who must claw her way out of the poverty she finds herself in after witnessing firsthand Sherman's March to the sea.

>> Gone with.

>> The wind.

>> Mary Mary Scarlett O'Hara is the right answer.

Finally, let's try this one.

In Robert Louis Stevenson's 1882 historical adventure novel treasure Novel, that is Treasure Island, what is the name of the young protagonist who comes upon a map of an island believed to contain buried treasure hidden by pirates?

>> James.

>> I appreciate the guesses.

Jim Hawkins is the right answer there.

All right, Westfield, once again, please pick a category and a point value.

>> World events for 30.

>> Last of the 30s.

Here we go with the qualifying question.

Take a look at your screen for this.

On April 29th, 1789, George Washington took the oath of office to become the first elected president of the United States.

The ceremony took place on the balcony of Federal Hall in what US city.

>> South Philadelphia.

>> Philadelphia.

>> I'm sorry, that is incorrect.

Pioneer Valley, can you capitalize?

>> New York.

>> New York City, yes, that is correct.

Let's move on.

In this category, more historical events that have taken place in the US during the month of April for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen.

Here's the first one.

On April 2nd, 1792, the Coinage Act was passed by Congress, establishing the United States Mint.

In what city was the first US mint built?

>> Philadelphia.

>> Yes, that was Philadelphia.

Good job.

On April 9th, 1865, after over 500,000 American deaths, the Civil War effectively ended as General Robert E Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S Grant.

In what?

Virginia village?

>> Vicksburg.

>> Correct answer.

There is Appomattox Courthouse, which was the village.

All right.

Finally, what was the name given to the war that broke out on April 21st, 1898, following the explosion two months earlier of the USS Maine in Cuba's Havana Harbor on February 15th.

>> I don't know.

>> Spanish-American War is the right answer there.

All right, Pioneer Valley Christian Academy, once again, please pick a category and a point value.

>> General knowledge for 25, please.

>> General knowledge for 25.

To qualify what alphabet includes the terms iota, Chi and Omicron Greek?

Yes.

That's correct.

Let's move on.

Let's see how well you know the Greek alphabet.

We'll show you a picture of the letter.

You provide its name these for ten points each.

Take a look at your screen.

Here's the first one.

Name this letter.

Omega theta is the right answer.

There.

>> I have no idea.

>> Gamma.

>> That would be rho.

Finally, this one's for five points.

How about this letter?

>> Delta?

>> Delta?

Yes, that is correct.

Westfield.

Once again your turn.

>> Social studies for 25.

>> Social studies for 25 to qualify.

Which of these nations does not border Austria, Poland, Germany, Hungary or Slovakia?

>> Poland.

>> Poland.

>> Poland.

Yes.

That's right.

Let's use Austria as our point of reference.

Once again, all name another European nation.

You tell me whether that country lies either east or west of Austria.

These are for five points each.

First.

France.

>> West.

>> West is correct.

Try Germany.

East.

Correct answer is West.

>> East.

>> East is correct.

Romania.

>> East.

>> East is right.

And finally.

How about Slovakia?

>> East.

>> Pioneer Valley Christian Academy, once again, please pick a category and a point value.

>> We'll take arts and entertainment for 25, please.

>> Arts and entertainment for 25 to qualify.

Take a look at your screens.

Famous in history as the place where explorer Henry Hudson landed in 1609.

You might go to this popular New York amusement and residential area today to enjoy the boardwalk, thrill rides and games of chance.

What place is this?

>> Hudson Bay?

>> I'm sorry.

That is incorrect.

Westfield High School.

Can you capitalize Coney Island?

Coney Island?

Yes, that is correct.

More about destination amusement parks in the United States.

In what US state would you be if you visited each of these places?

Take a look at your screen.

These are for ten points each.

First.

>> California.

>> California is correct.

How about Six Flags great adventure?

>> New Jersey.

>> New Jersey is correct.

And finally, this one's for five points.

How about Hershey Park, Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania.

Yes, that is correct.

And that marks the end of our capitalization round.

Let's take a moment now to meet the team from Pioneer Valley Christian Academy.

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

We asked the team from Pvca, what's your favorite band or music artist?

>> My favorite music artist is Lauren Daigle.

>> I'd say my favorite band or music artist is probably 21 Pilots, but one of my favorite songs is Goodbye Yesterday.

>> My favorite band is Harvey, but I also like a lot of musical artists that sing gospel from Nigeria.

>> I think one of my favorite music artists is Josiah Queen.

>> Let's move 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 answer correctly.

You win five points.

Answer incorrectly.

You lose five points.

We'll get out the popcorn for this round.

I'll name three characters from a popular animated movie.

You tell me the name of the movie you have 90s starting right now.

The evil Queen, grumpy, the Magic Mirror, Westfield White Snow white is correct.

Afia Taka, Simba, Pioneer Valley.

>> The Lion King.

>> Correct answer is Mufasa the Lion King.

Let's move on to the next one.

Slinky dog Rex Woody, Pioneer Valley.

>> Toy Story.

>> Yes, that's right, doc Hudson, Sally Carrera.

>> Cars.

>> Frozen.

>> Yes.

Frozen or frozen?

Two.

>> Pioneer valley Monsters, Inc.. >> Yes, that's correct.

Maui.

Tallon two.

Westfield.

>> Moana.

>> Moana is correct.

Joy.

Anger.

Riley.

>> Valley inside out.

>> Yes.

Inside out is correct.

Gale.

Cumulus.

Wade.

Ripple.

>> Elements.

>> Elemental is the right answer there.

Destiny.

Bailey.

Nemo.

>> Finding Dory.

>> Finding Dory is correct.

Try Dash.

Parr, Violet Parr, pioneer.

>> Valley, the Incredibles, Incredibles.

>> Yes, that's right.

Burnie.

Captain B McCrea.

Eve.

Westfield.

>> Wally.

>> Wally.

Just in time.

Carl.

Fredricksen.

Westfield.

Up, up is right.

Try.

Mama.

Imelda.

Rivera, Miguel.

Ernesto de la Cruz.

Westfield.

>> Coco.

>> Coco is right.

Dorothea Williams.

Councillor.

Jerry Joe Gardner.

Soul is the right answer there.

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

It also marks the end of our very first match of the historic 65th season.

What a great way to kick off our historic 65th season of As Schools Match Wits Pioneer Valley Christian Academy.

I love that you have smiles on your faces the entire time.

Westfield.

You are the winners of our inaugural match, so congratulations to you!

Job well done to see this 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.

A lot of anniversary surprises coming up as we again celebrate our historic 65th season.

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 180 years of commitment to the public, schools and colleges.

Our communities deserve.

>> 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.

>> Do you want to see when your school's 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.