(gentle orchestral music) - [Narrator] This program was made possible by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you.

Thank you.

(lively synth music) - Hello and welcome to the WCTETV Middle School Academic Bowl.

We have a great match for you today.

We are coming to you from the Millard Oakley STEM Center on the beautiful campus of Tennessee Tech University, with a final matchup for all the marbles between Portland West Middle School and Upperman Middle School.

I'll be your moderator, Molly Risley.

Let's see our teams.

- Hi, my name's Fisher Phillips and I drum and I'm on the Upperman Fishing Team.

I'm from Upperman Middle School, and I don't know.

(Fisher chuckles) Yeah, that'd be good.

- I'm Sam Brown from Upperman Middle School, and a fun fact I have is that I can play soccer.

- I'm Ryan Overpeck.

I'm with Upperman Middle School Academic Team.

I'm a Potterhead.

- Hi, my name is Andrew Digerian, I go to Upperman Middle School.

I'm in Academic Team.

- I am Spencer Straun from Upperman Middle School and one fun fact that I have is I really like to play drums and piano.

- My name is Caleb Bates.

I'm an English teacher and Academic Team coach for Upperman Middle School, and I enjoy foraging for mushrooms.

- My name is Liam Cornwell.

I go to Portland West Middle School And I'm built different.

My name is Liam Burloo.

I am from Portland West Middle School and I have Celiac disease.

- My name is Eli Freeman and I'm from Portland West Middle School and one cool fact about me is that my dream is to be an astronaut.

- I'm Tristan Perdue.

I go to a Portland West Middle and I know every single US president.

- My name is Sean Watts.

I go to Portland West Middle School and I play the saxophone.

- Hi, my name is Susie King.

I am the coach for the Portland West Middle School Academic Team.

This is only my second year and I've really enjoyed it.

I have taught social studies for about three or four years and my dream when I retire is to travel to all the places I've taught about.

- Hi, I am Christie Watts.

I'm the school psychologist at Portland West Middle School and I'm also the assistant coach for our Academic Team.

- Hi, my name's William Barnes.

I'm a student at the University of Tennessee and I'm a judge for the Academic Bowl.

- Hi, I'm Frank Holloway, I'm an engineer and I'm one of the judges in the Academic Bowl this year.

- Hi, I'm Dr. Paula Hinton.

I'm a professor of history at Tennessee Tech University and I'm one of the judges for academic Bowl.

- Alright, and as always we're gonna start with tossups.

So hands on buzzers, everybody ready?

For 300 years, this position was held by members of the Romanov family.

This- (buzzer beeping) Portland, John?

- Czar.

- [Molly] Czar is correct.

- Let's go.

- [Molly] Bonuses.

For 10 points each, answer the following about state nicknames.

Although this state uses the moniker of "the Birthplace of Aviation" on their license plates, its more common nickname is the Buckeye state.

- Ohio.

- [Molly] Ohio is correct.

This other Midwestern state has used popular nicknames such as the dairy state and the Badger State.

- Nebraska, maybe.

- Nebraska.

- Incorrect.

We're looking for Wisconsin there.

Those cheeseheads.

So, you got 10 on the bonus and 10 on the tossup.

Next tossup, when it is cut, certain compounds are released that cause irritation in the eye.

(buzzer beeping) Upperman, Andrew.

- Onion.

- [Molly] Onion is correct.

- Yeah.

(boys muttering) Alright, your bonuses.

For 10 points each, answer the following concerning animal names.

This African animal's name means "horned nosed" and collectively a group is called a crash.

- Rhinoceros.

- [Molly] Rhinoceros is correct.

This other animal is considered one of the smartest animals in the world and collectively a group of them is known as a murder.

- Elephant.

- No, crow.

- Incorrect.

We're looking for crow there.

Murder of crows.

So you got 10 on the bonus and 10 on the tossup for a total of 20.

Next tossup.

His Greek counterpart is the God of love, Eros.

(buzzer beeping) Upperman, Ryan.

- Cupid.

- [Molly] Cupid is correct.

Your bonuses.

For 10 points each, answer the following about rivers in the United States.

This river starts in its namesake state before going on to carve out the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

- Colorado.

- [Molly] Colorado's correct.

As the third longest river in the USA, this river actually starts in the Canadian province of British Columbia before going through its namesake territory into Alaska.

- No answer?

- Uh, no answer.

- [Molly] All right, and we're looking for Yukon there.

- Oh.

- Oh.

- So just 10 on the bonus and 10 on the tossup gives you 20.

Next tossup.

He had Locusta poison Britannicus, the son of the man who adopted him, and this son of Agrippina the Younger accused the Christians of starting the fire that burned half of Rome while he fiddled.

(buzzer beeping) Portland, John.

- Nero.

- [Molly] Nero is correct.

Your bonuses, for 10 points each, answer the following about the Netflix hit Stranger Things.

Stranger Things is set in this state's fictional town of Hawkins.

- Indiana.

- [Molly] Indiana is correct.

The residents of Hawkins are afflicted by this alternate dimension causing all the trouble.

- The Upside Down.

- The Upside Down is correct.

11 would be proud of you, John.

Alright, so 20 on the bonus and 10 on the tossup gives you 30.

Next tossup.

Dodie Smith wrote a sequel to this book called "The Starlight Barking".

In this book's beginning, Perdita was abandoned and is brought to the Dearly home to help Missis with Cadpig, Patch and Lucky.

Name this work in which Cruella de Vil attempts- (buzzer beeping) Portland, John.

- 101 Dalmatians.

- [Molly] 101 Dalmatians is correct.

Your bonuses.

For 10 points each, answer the following about the Declaration of Independence.

The meeting that passed the Declaration was the second done by this assembly.

- Continental Congress.

- [Molly] Continental Congress is correct.

During the second Continental Congress, the resolution to write the declaration was proposed by Richard Henry Lee, a delegate from this state.

- Virginia.

- Virginia is correct.

So 20 on the bonus.

Alright, next tossup.

A red sky in this painting illuminates boats on the water in a harbor in Oslo.

Behind a hair- (buzzer beeping) Portland, John.

- The Scream.

- [Molly] The Scream is correct.

Your bonus is for 10 points each, identify the following about things pertaining to operas.

This composer's operas include "The Magic Flute" and "The Marriage of Figaro".

- Mozart.

- [Molly] Mozart is correct.

The composer Georges Bizet's character Carmen is one of this type of person, one traditionally associated with fortune telling.

- Genie.

- [Molly] Genie is incorrect.

We're looking for Gypsy.

Gypsy.

- Ah, makes sense.

- [Molly] So you got 10 on the bonus and 10 on the tossup.

Next tossup.

For the Germans, this tactic consisted of splitting thrust- (buzzer beeping) Upperman, Sam.

- Blitzkrieg.

- Blitzkrieg is correct.

- Oops, dropped mine.

- What?

- [Molly] Alright, bonuses for Upperman.

Given a description of a famed Chris Van Allsburg story that was later turned into film, for 10 points each, identify that work.

In this holiday classic, Van Allsberg writes of a young boy that takes a trip to the North Pole on December 24th.

- Polar Express.

- I refer to Andrew.

- Polar Express.

- [Molly] Polar Express is correct.

- Oh!

I can barely hear.

- This other Van Allsberg novel is about an enchanted board game that implements wild animals and jungle elements into a game that is played in real life.

- Jumanji.

- Jumanji is correct.

So 20 on the bonus.

Good job.

Next tossup.

Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong are known as the Little Book of this color.

(buzzer beeping) Upperman, Andrew.

- Red.

- [Molly] Red is correct.

Your bonuses, identify the term that for 10 points each, contains the word double.

A provision in the Fifth Amendment uses this two word term to refer to being tried for the same crime twice.

- Double jeopardy.

- [Molly] That's correct.

This other two word term is used to identify the shape of DNA.

- Double helix.

- Double helix.

- Double helix.

- Double helix is correct.

So 20 on the bonus.

- Next tossup.

He was once captured by the sons of Aloeus, who kept him in a jar for 13 months and he killed a son of Poseidon in order to save his daughter.

(buzzer beeping) That is Portland, John.

- Odysseus.

- [Molly] Odysseus is incorrect.

I'll keep reading.

To save his daughter Alcippe from being violated.

This brother of Eris was once trapped in a net with Aphrodite by Hephaestus.

Name this god of war.

(buzzer beeping) Upperman, Sam.

- Aries.

- [Molly] Aries is correct.

And your bonuses, for 10 points each, identify the island or island chain from the description.

The Hawaiian Islands were given this name by James Cook to honor an Earl noted for creating a famed food item.

- Sandwich items.

- Sandwich items.

- [Molly] Sandwich is correct.

The largest island in the world is this island that is an autonomous territory of Denmark.

- Greenland.

- Greenland is correct.

So 20 on the bonus.

Next tossup.

The Kaibab Plateau is bisected by this natural feature which became a national park after John Wesley Powell- (buzzer beeping) That is Portland, Liam.

- Yellowstone.

- [Molly] That's incorrect.

I'm gonna keep reading for Upperman.

John Wesley Powell mapped it in what is now Arizona.

The Colorado River carved out what- (buzzer beeping) Upperman, Sam.

- The Grand Canyon.

- [Molly] Grand Canyon is correct.

- There you go.

- Your bonuses.

Given a feature found in our solar system, for 10 points each, name the object in the solar system being described.

This object accounts for over 99% of the mass in the solar system.

- Sun.

- [Molly] Sun is correct.

This other object contains the Sea of Tranquility and the Sea of Serenity.

- Moon.

- Moon.

- Moon is correct.

So 20 on the bonus.

Next tossup.

In a poem about this blacksmith, Henry Wordsworth Longfellow opens with "Listen my children and you shall hear".

(buzzer beeping) That is Upperman, Ryan.

- "The Ride of John Revere".

- Incorrect.

What man was the subject in the poem about the midnight he took to- (timer beeping) And we're out of time.

The correct answer there was Paul Revere.

- [Ryan] Yeah, I know.

- Paul Revere.

- [Ryan] I knew it as soon as I said it.

- So at the end of our first round, we have Portland West with 100 and Upperman with 160.

Stick with us.

The lightning rounds coming up next.

Welcome back.

We've got a really great game going on here in the Millard Oakley STEM center on the beautiful campus of Tennessee Tech University.

We've got Portland West Middle School and Upperman Middle School.

And before we start our lightning round, we'd like to introduce you to some new players.

For Portland West Middle, we've got Tristan.

There he is.

And for Upperman Middle School we've got Spencer, staring down the camera.

Alright.

Portland West is gonna get to choose first in the lightning round.

Your options are answers that begin with the letter A or answers that begin with the letter E. - Let's go with A.

A.

- [Molly] We're gonna go with letter A.

So the fellas in purple are gonna give me all the correct answers on the sheet in front of me that start with the letter A.

We've got 60 seconds on the clock.

Here we go.

This barred spiral galaxy is the closest big galaxy to the Milky Way.

- Andromeda.

- [Molly] Buenos Aires is the capital of this South American country.

- Argentina.

- [Molly] She wrote the memoir, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings".

- Angelo.

- [Molly] This prolific sci-fi author wrote "I, Robot" that included the laws of robotics - Pass.

- Pass.

- [Molly] This is the title to Sun Tzu's essential guide to the military and military strategy.

- Art of War.

- [Molly] This musical turned movie popularized such songs as "Tomorrow" and "Hard Knock Life".

- Annie.

- [Molly] He became president Number 21 due to James Garfield being assassinated.

- Arthur.

- [Molly] It is the capital city of the Pine Tree State.

- Annapolis.

- [Molly] Pride and Prejudice is among the six completed full length novels by this author.

- Austen.

- [Molly] He was the most famous mathematician of ancient Greece and the inventor who cried Eureka.

- Aristophanes.

- [Molly] This prolific sci-Fi author wrote "I, Robot".

that included the laws of robotics.

- Andrews.

(buzzer beeping) - All right, at the end of lightning round, I got 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7 for 70.

Alright, 70 points for Portland West.

Great job.

And now we'll see what happens with Upperman Middle School, giving me the answers to these clues that begin with the letter E. 60 seconds on the clock.

Here we go.

Addis Ababa is the capital of this African country.

- Ethiopia.

- [Molly] After he abdicated, Napoleon was first exiled to this Mediterranean island.

- Elma.

- [Molly] In a Disney film, he is a large green dragon who befriends a young orphan named Pete.

- Pass.

- [Molly] This Memphis, Tennessee resident was known as the King of Rock and Roll.

- Elvis - [Molly] Cleveland, Ohio lies along the banks of this body of water.

- Erie.

- Erie.

- [Molly] This Greek mathematician was often referred to as the father of geometry.

- Euclid.

- Euclid.

- [Molly] It is the smallest of the four Galilean moons orbiting Jupiter.

- (indistinct) - Pass.

- [Molly] Located in New York Harbor, it was the Chief Immigration center for the US from 19- - Ellis Island.

- [Molly] Yes.

Talon is the capital city of this Baltic country.

- Uh, Estonia.

- [Molly] It is the nickname, team nickname for the NFL franchise from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

- Eagles.

- In a Disney film, he is a large green dragon- (buzzer beeping) Alright, we're out of time.

So I got eight for 80.

Eight for 80.

So we got Ethiopia, Elba, Elvis, Erie, Euclid, Ellis Island, Estonia and Eagles.

We needed to know that Elliot is the name of Pete's Dragon and Europa is the smallest of Jupiter's moon.

Otherwise, really great job everybody.

So at the end of the lightning round we have Portland West with 170 and Upperman with 240.

Everybody grab buzzers and we're gonna go right into our next tossup.

In a poem about this blacksmith, nope, just kidding.

Read that one already.

This man became Vice President after Federalists switched their support to Thomas Jefferson in the election.

(buzzer beeping) That is Portland, John.

- Hamilton.

- [Molly] Incorrect.

I'll continue reading.

In the election of 1800, this man was nearly indicted in New Jersey for slaying a political rival in a dual at Weehawken.

Named this American statesman who ruined his political career by killing Alexander Hamilton.

(buzzer beeping) Upperman, Andrew.

- Andrew Jackson.

- Incorrect.

We are looking for Aaron Burr, sir.

- Oh, Aaron Burr.

- All right, next tossup.

It is covered by enamel on the crown and cementum on the root and it surrounds the entire pulp.

What is the name for this hard bone-like material?

(buzzer beeping) That is Upperman, Andrew.

- (indistinct) - [Molly] Incorrect.

I'll keep reading for Portland.

That contains tiny tubes leading to the soft pulp cavity.

(buzzer beeping) Portland, John.

- The pit?

- Incorrect.

We're looking for dentin.

Dentin in your teeth.

Alright, next tossup.

In Greek mythology, these members of a primeval race of powerful deities were descendants of Gaia and Uranus.

(buzzer beeping) That is Upperman, Ryan.

- Titans.

- [Molly] Titans is correct.

Alright, your bonuses, for 10 points each, answer the following about characters from the Chronicles of Narnia.

This character's name comes from the Turkish word for lion.

- Asland.

- [Molly] Asland is correct.

Narnians call female humans daughters of this biblical character.

- Eve.

- Eve is correct.

So 20 on the bonus.

Good job.

Next tossup.

This island, previously called Formosa, saw the 1950 arrival- (buzzer beeping) That is Upperman, Andrew.

- Taiwan.

- [Molly] Taiwan is correct.

Here are your bonuses.

For 10 points each, answer the following about notable groups and organizations.

In America, this organization was founded by Clara Barton.

- Um... - [Molly] Answer?

- No answer.

- [Molly] American Red Cross is what we needed there.

- Oh, no.

- [Molly] The United States, Canada and multiple European countries belong to the military alliance that was formed in 1949.

- NATO.

- NATO is correct.

So 10 on the bonus.

Next tossup.

Opposed by Francis Drake, this force was commanded by the Duke of Medina Sidonia- (buzzer beeping) Portland, John.

- Spanish Armada.

- [Molly] Spanish Armada is correct.

Here are your bonuses.

For Portland, for 10 points each, identify the color associated with the following historical things.

Ethan Allen led the Mountain Boys named for a range in Vermont.

- Green.

- [Molly] Green is correct.

This other color was used to name a British Crown colony on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa from 1821 until its independence in 1957 as the country of Ghana.

- Red.

- Incorrect.

We're looking for gold, Ghana's over there on the gold coast.

All right, next.

So 10 on the bonus and 10 on the tossup gives you 20.

Next tossup.

His stories were written nearly 3000 years ago and in them, he gave us phrases we still use- (buzzer beeping) That is Portland, John.

- Aesop?

- [Molly] Incorrect, I'll continue.

(buzzer beeping) Upperman, Sam.

- Shakespeare.

- [Molly] Incorrect.

We're looking for Homer.

- Oh.

- All right.

Next tossup.

A scientist studying this branch of earth science would need to be familiar with the concepts of air pressure, water vapor, and of course temperature.

(buzzer beeping) Upperman, Andrew.

- Fluid dynamics.

- [Molly] Incorrect, I'll continue reading for Portland.

What is the scientific study of the atmosphere that can be seen?

(buzzer beeping) Portland, John.

- Meteorology?

- [Molly] Meteorology.

On the nightly news, your local meteorologist.

All right, for 10 points each answer the following about elements.

This element was discovered by Joseph Priestley and is the most abundant element found in the Earth's crust.

(boys muttering) Answer?

- Oxygen - [Molly] Oxygen's correct.

This other element is the most abundant element in our solar system.

- Hydrogen.

Hydrogen?

- Hydrogen's correct.

20 points on that bonus.

Good job.

Next tossup.

Some of its movements include Aviary, Kangaroos, and Aquarium.

But the best known is a cello solo named the Swan.

Named this suite by Camille Saint-Saens.

(buzzer beeping) Upperman, Ryan.

- Carnival.

- More specific.

Time.

We gotta have Carnival of the Animals there.

Carnival of the Animals.

Alright, so next tossup.

They are formed when light rays undergo two refractions and one internal reflection in a droplet causing this visual.

(buzzer beeping) Upperman, Andrew.

- Rainbow.

- Rainbow is correct.

Your bonuses.

It is often said that sharing is caring.

For 10 points each, identify these geographical places that share.

The island of Hispaniola is shared by these two Caribbean countries.

- Dominican Republic and Haiti.

- Dominican Republic and Haiti.

- [Molly] That is correct.

The Canadian province of Quebec, along with the province of New Brunswick, shares a border with this US state.

- Michigan.

- Michigan.

- Incorrect.

We're looking for Maine.

Those two provinces border Maine.

So 10 on the bonus and 10 on the tossup there.

Next tossup.

Get your pencil and paper ready for this math clue.

Wanda wants to get rid of all her green shirts, but not the ones with ducks on them.

She has 20 shirts total and three fourths of those are green and one third of the green shirts have ducks on them.

Wanda calculates- (buzzer beeping) Portland, Eli.

- Five.

- [Molly] That is incorrect.

Wanda calculates what number of green shirts without a- (buzzer beeping) Upperman, Andrew?

- 15.

- [Molly] That's incorrect.

Wanda calculates what number of green shirts without a duck on it that she has to get rid of.

The answer is 10 shirts.

So nobody gets points on that.

Next tossup.

This politician created America's first volunteer fire department and served as the- (buzzer beeping) Upperman, Sam.

- Benjamin Franklin.

- [Molly] Benjamin Franklin is correct.

Here are your bonuses.

Given a description that includes an author of a famous science fiction novel, for 10 points each, identify the work.

In this Frank Herbert sci-fi work, families fight over the desert planet Arrakis and the spice that is found there.

- Dune.

- [Molly] Dune is correct.

In this other sci-fi work, HG Wells writes about a man that goes 800,000 years into the future where he helps the Eloi against the Morlocks.

- The Time Machine.

- Time Machine is correct.

So 20 on that bonus.

Next tossup.

This empire constructed the city Yaha and Sankore mosque and one of its rulers devaluate gold during a Hajj.

(buzzer beeping) Portland, John.

- Mali.

- Mali is correct.

Here are your bonuses.

For 10 points each, answer the following about vice presidents.

This Tennesseean was serving as the Vice President when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, making him the 17th President.

- Andrew Johnson.

- [Molly] Andrew Johnson is correct.

Another Tennesseean, Andrew Jackson, had this future president from New York serving as his second Vice President.

- Martin Van Buren.

- Martin Van Buren is correct.

20 points on that bonus.

Great job.

Next tossup.

He claims that his invention called fizzy lifting drink is 93%- (buzzer beeping) That is Portland, John.

- Willy Wonka.

- [Molly] Willy Wonka is correct.

Your bonuses, for 10 points each, identify these things of science.

This term shows the resistance of a fluid to flow as is seen in the property of motor oil.

- Viscosity?

- Viscosity.

(timer beeping) - Viscosity is correct.

So 10 on that bonus.

And that brings us to a final score of Portland West 270, Upperman 340 in this match for all the marbles.

Fantastic job, both teams.

(crowd clapping) (upbeat synth music) - This program was made possible by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you.

Thank you.