naqt.com wrote:NAQT is pleased to announce that its 2015 High School National Championship Tournament will be held at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare hotel on May 29–31, 2015 (the weekend after Memorial Day weekend). This is the same hotel that hosted the tournament in 2014.
The field for the tournament is limited to 272 teams.
Jeff Hoppes
President, Northern California Quiz Bowl Alliance
former HSQB Chief Admin (2012-13)
VP for Communication and history subject editor, NAQT
Editor emeritus, ACF
"I wish to make some kind of joke about Jeff's love of birds, but I always fear he'll turn them on me Hitchcock-style." -Fred
NAQT has instituted uniform standards for the lockout systems that it will accept for discounts at any of its national championship tournaments.
naqt.com wrote:a buzzer system must have these features:
It must clearly indicate which player (not merely which team) has signaled.
It must lock out all subsequent attepts to signal until the moderator has cleared it.
It must "beep," "buzz," or provide other audible feedback when a player signals.
It must have at least four working lights for each team; additional, non-working lights are acceptable, but a system with five working red-team lights and three working green-team lights is not (even though there are eight total working lights).
In addition, these broad classes of buzzers will not be accepted for discounts at the present time:
-Wireless systems
-Any system requiring a laptop, desktop, gaming console, or other computer to function. (This is true even if such a computer is provided by the team.)
NAQT will test each provided lockout system prior to the beginning of the championship; if a system fails to meet the above criteria, the discount will be rescinded.
In addition, NAQT's lockout system discounts assume that the system will be available for use through the end of the consolation rounds. Barring true emergencies, teams will not be able to reclaim their systems prior to this. An HSNCT team, for instance, that plans to drive home on Saturday evening if it doesn't qualify for the playoffs should not bring a lockout system because the system will not be available for return on Saturday night.
Jeff Hoppes
President, Northern California Quiz Bowl Alliance
former HSQB Chief Admin (2012-13)
VP for Communication and history subject editor, NAQT
Editor emeritus, ACF
"I wish to make some kind of joke about Jeff's love of birds, but I always fear he'll turn them on me Hitchcock-style." -Fred
Jeff Hoppes
President, Northern California Quiz Bowl Alliance
former HSQB Chief Admin (2012-13)
VP for Communication and history subject editor, NAQT
Editor emeritus, ACF
"I wish to make some kind of joke about Jeff's love of birds, but I always fear he'll turn them on me Hitchcock-style." -Fred
Wildcard applications for the 2015 HSNCT are now open. To apply, please use this online form.
If you would like to add a team to the standby list for the 2015 HSNCT, please do so here.
Jeff Hoppes
President, Northern California Quiz Bowl Alliance
former HSQB Chief Admin (2012-13)
VP for Communication and history subject editor, NAQT
Editor emeritus, ACF
"I wish to make some kind of joke about Jeff's love of birds, but I always fear he'll turn them on me Hitchcock-style." -Fred
Jeff Hoppes
President, Northern California Quiz Bowl Alliance
former HSQB Chief Admin (2012-13)
VP for Communication and history subject editor, NAQT
Editor emeritus, ACF
"I wish to make some kind of joke about Jeff's love of birds, but I always fear he'll turn them on me Hitchcock-style." -Fred
Only a handful of spots remain in the field for the 2015 HSNCT. Qualified teams should register here as soon as possible.
Jeff Hoppes
President, Northern California Quiz Bowl Alliance
former HSQB Chief Admin (2012-13)
VP for Communication and history subject editor, NAQT
Editor emeritus, ACF
"I wish to make some kind of joke about Jeff's love of birds, but I always fear he'll turn them on me Hitchcock-style." -Fred
The field has now closed. Teams interested in attending the 2015 HSNCT should join the waitlist.
Jeff Hoppes
President, Northern California Quiz Bowl Alliance
former HSQB Chief Admin (2012-13)
VP for Communication and history subject editor, NAQT
Editor emeritus, ACF
"I wish to make some kind of joke about Jeff's love of birds, but I always fear he'll turn them on me Hitchcock-style." -Fred
Hi, Jeff. Will NAQT be considering a jump to 272 again? If so, when do you expect that discussion to occur? I notice that the bump to 272 last year occurred on March 6.
Also, does NAQT have a multiple of 16 beyond 256 in mind that it considers the event's logistical maximum?
Stephen Fontenot
Texas Quiz Bowl Alliance Deputy Director
Communications, UT Dallas
Strake Jesuit '96 -+-+- Southwestern '00
We will be considering the possibility of expansion to 272; we'll see what demand looks like in the next few weeks.
272 is the effective maximum using the schedule and venue for the 2014 and 2015 HSNCTs. (Expansion to 288 or beyond would add another tier of playoffs to Sunday, and we're not willing to change that mid-year when many teams have already made travel plans.)
Planning is already underway for the possibility of field expansion beyond 272 in 2016 and subsequent years.
Jeff Hoppes
President, Northern California Quiz Bowl Alliance
former HSQB Chief Admin (2012-13)
VP for Communication and history subject editor, NAQT
Editor emeritus, ACF
"I wish to make some kind of joke about Jeff's love of birds, but I always fear he'll turn them on me Hitchcock-style." -Fred
With over 20 teams on the waitlist, I have to think that they will expand the field to at least the number of teams that they had (at the same location) last year.
Lee Henry
AP Lit and APUSH Teacher
Quiz Bowl Coach
West Point High School
President-Elect/Past President- Alabama Scholastic Competition Association (ASCA)
quizbowllee wrote:With over 20 teams on the waitlist, I have to think that they will expand the field to at least the number of teams that they had (at the same location) last year.
Remember, though, that after the field was expanded to 272 last year, there were so many drops that the field fell to 256 with a wait list of 0, and all standby teams had to be let in as a bloc (regardless of qualification status) to run with the 272-team schedule they had locked themselves into.
Matt Jackson
University of Chicago '24
Yale '14, Georgetown Day School '10
member emeritus, ACF
The situation Matt Jackson describes is why we 1) moved up the no-penalty drop deadline this year and 2) drastically changed our reserved berth policy.
Jeff Hoppes
President, Northern California Quiz Bowl Alliance
former HSQB Chief Admin (2012-13)
VP for Communication and history subject editor, NAQT
Editor emeritus, ACF
"I wish to make some kind of joke about Jeff's love of birds, but I always fear he'll turn them on me Hitchcock-style." -Fred
Out of curiosity, what is the FEWEST number of standby teams that have been used in an HSNCT?
Lee Henry
AP Lit and APUSH Teacher
Quiz Bowl Coach
West Point High School
President-Elect/Past President- Alabama Scholastic Competition Association (ASCA)
In recent history, we have had as few as two standby teams.
Jeff Hoppes
President, Northern California Quiz Bowl Alliance
former HSQB Chief Admin (2012-13)
VP for Communication and history subject editor, NAQT
Editor emeritus, ACF
"I wish to make some kind of joke about Jeff's love of birds, but I always fear he'll turn them on me Hitchcock-style." -Fred
We received your email, Naren. Anyone else in a similar situation should do the same (email us with details at [email protected]).
Jeff Hoppes
President, Northern California Quiz Bowl Alliance
former HSQB Chief Admin (2012-13)
VP for Communication and history subject editor, NAQT
Editor emeritus, ACF
"I wish to make some kind of joke about Jeff's love of birds, but I always fear he'll turn them on me Hitchcock-style." -Fred
quizbowllee wrote:With over 20 teams on the waitlist, I have to think that they will expand the field to at least the number of teams that they had (at the same location) last year.
I'm pleased to report that the field for the 2015 HSNCT has been expanded to 272 teams.
Jeff Hoppes
President, Northern California Quiz Bowl Alliance
former HSQB Chief Admin (2012-13)
VP for Communication and history subject editor, NAQT
Editor emeritus, ACF
"I wish to make some kind of joke about Jeff's love of birds, but I always fear he'll turn them on me Hitchcock-style." -Fred
mithokie wrote:How does the distribution for HSNCT differ from IS sets. I know that there are not computation TU at HSNCT. Do those questions all go to math?
I am not a representative of NAQT, but I believe the distribution for HSNCT can be found on their website.
Our block at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare is now sold out for HSNCT weekend. We are working on arrangements for an overflow hotel and plan to announce that next week.
Jeff Hoppes
President, Northern California Quiz Bowl Alliance
former HSQB Chief Admin (2012-13)
VP for Communication and history subject editor, NAQT
Editor emeritus, ACF
"I wish to make some kind of joke about Jeff's love of birds, but I always fear he'll turn them on me Hitchcock-style." -Fred
bird bird bird bird bird wrote:Our block at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare is now sold out for HSNCT weekend. We are working on arrangements for an overflow hotel and plan to announce that next week.
naqt.com wrote:NAQT has arranged for the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare to serve as an overflow hotel for this tournament.
The Crowne Plaza has king and (quadruple occupancy) queen/queen rooms available for $109/night. Parking is $5/day with in-and-out privileges and guest-room Internet access is complimentary. The hotel has a complimentary airport shuttle.
The Crowne Plaza is about one block south and one block west of the Main Entrance to the Hyatt Regency O’Hare. Here is a map showing the proper route to walk.
To make reservations at the overflow hotel, call 877.337.5793 and say that you are with the "NAQT" group. Teams can also make reservations online.
The last day to make reservations (at the group rate) at the overflow hotel is May 20 (or when the block of rooms runs out, whichever comes first). Teams may cancel reservations without penalty more than 48 hours in advance.
The hotel’s address is:
Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare
5440 North River Road
Rosemont, Illinois 60018
Telephone: 877.337.5793 (reservations)
Fax: 847.671.5406
Jeff Hoppes
President, Northern California Quiz Bowl Alliance
former HSQB Chief Admin (2012-13)
VP for Communication and history subject editor, NAQT
Editor emeritus, ACF
"I wish to make some kind of joke about Jeff's love of birds, but I always fear he'll turn them on me Hitchcock-style." -Fred
Didn't know if this was the right place to post this, but couldn't find anywhere better.
We (Lisgar) are running into a small issue in that we're bringing 7 guys and 1 girl, which makes room arrangements a little tough. We seem to have resolved the 7 guys part, but we still lack a roommate for our 8th player (and don't want to waste half the cost of a room by putting her on her own). If any other teams also have a lone female player and would be interested in splitting a room, please contact our coach at ruth_crabtree [AT] hotmail.com. Thanks!
If anybody is interested in attending Mass during HSNCT, Fr. Augustine and Fr. Gregory from Cistercian have again agreed to offer Mass for the quiz bowl community.
Mass should start about 15 minutes after the last round ends on Saturday.
E-mail me ([email protected]) or call/text me (928-245-0244) for more information. (I may be moderating rounds, so please don't call me while the tournament is underway.)
(Sorry for the double post, but I don't know that everybody would read the other one, and I'm not sure which is the more appropriate place to put it.)
Colin McNamara, Boise State University
Member, PACE
Idaho Quiz & Academic Teams
Yes; on NAQT's website, it says that the format for this year's tournament is identical to last year's.
Devin James John Humphreys Sacred Heart Academy High School (MI), Class of 2017 - 2015 HSNCT, 2016 NSC, 2017 NSC Michigan State University, B.A. Class of 2020 University of Notre Dame, J.D. Class of 2023 - standby 2023 ICT-DII; coach 2023-24
The tournament format is identical but the room list is not. Harry, you should have email in your inbox from Jonah explaning the details.
Jeff Hoppes
President, Northern California Quiz Bowl Alliance
former HSQB Chief Admin (2012-13)
VP for Communication and history subject editor, NAQT
Editor emeritus, ACF
"I wish to make some kind of joke about Jeff's love of birds, but I always fear he'll turn them on me Hitchcock-style." -Fred
PSA to teams & staffers coming from out-of-town: BRING A JACKET.
The weather for Saturday is going to be rainy with a high temp of 57. Sunday clears a bit, but it'll still only reach 60. Not the type of weather you might expect after Memorial Day (unless you live here, then, yeah... standard variance).
Jeff Price
Barrington High School Coach (2021 & 2023 HSNCT Champions, 2023 PACE Champions, 2023 Illinois Masonic Bowl Class 3A State Champions)
Barrington Station Middle School Coach (2013 MSNCT Champions, 2013 & 2017 Illinois Class AA State Champions)
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the return of AHAN wrote:PSA to teams & staffers coming from out-of-town: BRING A JACKET.
The weather for Saturday is going to be rainy with a high temp of 57. Sunday clears a bit, but it'll still only reach 60.
As an added bonus, Saturday's high is going to arrive around 9am; look for rain through midday and 20 - 25 mph winds Saturday afternoon and evening; it will feel more like the upper 30s with the wind chill beginning in the afternoon.
the return of AHAN wrote:Not the type of weather you might expect after Memorial Day (unless you live here, then, yeah... standard variance).
Actually....a high of 57 falls in the 10th percentile of all high temps on May 30 (back to 1873) and below the 25th percentile for all days in May. It's extraordinarily miserable, even by your standards.
Dan Goff
HSQB sysadmin
Virginia Tech '13
South Carolina '15
and a couple other places
Not Thomas Dale HS
the return of AHAN wrote:PSA to teams & staffers coming from out-of-town: BRING A JACKET.
The weather for Saturday is going to be rainy with a high temp of 57. Sunday clears a bit, but it'll still only reach 60. Not the type of weather you might expect after Memorial Day (unless you live here, then, yeah... standard variance).
I remember a tournament that we went to in Chicago a few years back that was like that. Cold, windy, and dreary...
Completely meaningless stat quirk: Everyone from Blacksburg, and one player from St. Paul Academy A, is listed as having played 9.9 games, presumably b/c the game went to overtime in rd 6 but not everybody was credited with the three extra tossups. (Alternatively, everyone from Blacksburg, and one player from St. Paul, sat out three questions because reasons, but that seems less likely.)
I'm keeping my own version of the bracket at http://tinyurl.com/2015hsnctbracket, though I believe NAQT is keeping an official bracket online somewhere.
Congratulations to Arcadia A, who defeated LASA A 410-285 in a one-game final to win the 2015 NAQT High School National Championship Tournament! Detroit Catholic Central finished third; IMSA placed fourth.
Jeff Hoppes
President, Northern California Quiz Bowl Alliance
former HSQB Chief Admin (2012-13)
VP for Communication and history subject editor, NAQT
Editor emeritus, ACF
"I wish to make some kind of joke about Jeff's love of birds, but I always fear he'll turn them on me Hitchcock-style." -Fred
tabstop wrote:Completely meaningless stat quirk: Everyone from Blacksburg, and one player from St. Paul Academy A, is listed as having played 9.9 games, presumably b/c the game went to overtime in rd 6 but not everybody was credited with the three extra tossups. (Alternatively, everyone from Blacksburg, and one player from St. Paul, sat out three questions because reasons, but that seems less likely.)
I can't find where this is; has it been fixed or can you provide a link?
Jonah Greenthal
National Academic Quiz Tournaments
I'm curious how the protest on the Music Man in the final would have been ruled. Is there a general NAQT rule for accepting nicknames of characters if that nickname is in the title? Can anyone from NAQT comment on how this would have hypothetically gone?
David Madden
Ridgewood (NJ) '99, Princeton '03
Founder and Director: International History Bee and Bowl, National History Bee and Bowl (High School Division), International History Olympiad, United States Geography Olympiad, US History Bee, US Academic Bee and Bowl, National Humanities Bee, National Science Bee, International Academic Bowl.
Adviser and former head coach for Team USA at the International Geography Olympiad
In general, we will not comment on the hypothetical resolution of protests that were rendered moot.
Jeff Hoppes
President, Northern California Quiz Bowl Alliance
former HSQB Chief Admin (2012-13)
VP for Communication and history subject editor, NAQT
Editor emeritus, ACF
"I wish to make some kind of joke about Jeff's love of birds, but I always fear he'll turn them on me Hitchcock-style." -Fred
tabstop wrote:Completely meaningless stat quirk: Everyone from Blacksburg, and one player from St. Paul Academy A, is listed as having played 9.9 games, presumably b/c the game went to overtime in rd 6 but not everybody was credited with the three extra tossups. (Alternatively, everyone from Blacksburg, and one player from St. Paul, sat out three questions because reasons, but that seems less likely.)
I can't find where this is; has it been fixed or can you provide a link?
It appears to be fixed now, as the students now show 26 toss ups heard for that game.
For whatever it's worth, I answered Hunchback of Notre Dame for Quasimodo in one of the scrimmages and the moderator said the answerline didn't say anything about prompting on that.
Finn Bender
Edmond Memorial '15
OU '19
Colorado '21
Just a quick point that has nothing to do with questions:
As a moderator, I thought the pronunciation guides in this set were out of control. There were literally almost three or four guides every tossup at times, and this was very, very distracting when trying to read questions. There were also guides for words that I would imagine for most quizbowlers were relatively common, let's say "Gauss" or "Hermes." Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you're an idiot if you don't know how to pronounce those words, but there were plenty of words that didn't get guides of equal potential difficulty. For the purposes of clarity and space, I think it would be nicer to save guides for only uncommon quizbowl words, especially at a national tournament when the vast majority of readers have experience reading.
I've split the discussion of pronunciation guides (but left Mike's original post above, so that Arcadia will receive Mike's congratulations!). You can find the PG discussion in the theory forum here.
Playing in the podcast room was the coolest experience of my high school quizbowl career. Hopefully they're posted soon, because that's something that can greatly improve outreach and get school administrators excited about their teams as well.
I thought HSNCT was a fantastic tournament, but is there any rationale I'm unaware of for why PPG is used to seed instead of PPB? It wouldn't have made a tremendous difference to us anyway, but given the fact teams often have none of the same opponents and take very different routes to their final records makes PPB a logical option as well. We faced 8 playoff teams in prelims, and basically got penalized for that with a poor seeding for playoffs. I understand these are the variables of the card system which is actually ingenious, but I would like to learn a bit more about some of the rationale.
Oh and congrats to Arcadia for a thrilling final victory!
Shravan Balaji
Academic Team Captain
East Brunswick High School '15
University of Pennsylvania '19
NHBB Mid-Atlantic Regional Coordinator
Al Hirt wrote:Playing in the podcast room was the coolest experience of my high school quizbowl career. Hopefully they're posted soon, because that's something that can greatly improve outreach and get school administrators excited about their teams as well.
We'll try. I am cautiously optimistic that we can get them posted during the first half of the summer.
Jonah Greenthal
National Academic Quiz Tournaments
Al Hirt wrote:I thought HSNCT was a fantastic tournament, but is there any rationale I'm unaware of for why PPG is used to seed instead of PPB?
In general, we believe that tossup results contain a substantial amount of data about the relative quality of teams, and we are reluctant to simply cast those results aside when ranking teams.
Jeff Hoppes
President, Northern California Quiz Bowl Alliance
former HSQB Chief Admin (2012-13)
VP for Communication and history subject editor, NAQT
Editor emeritus, ACF
"I wish to make some kind of joke about Jeff's love of birds, but I always fear he'll turn them on me Hitchcock-style." -Fred