3 Day Ridgewood Summer Invitational: July 6-8, Ridgewood, NJ

[MorganV]

This is all a moot point anyways, I forgot this was my father's birthday so I'll be in Michigan this weekend. I may or may not end up sending you a packet.

[GrahamReid]

Does the Friday night event need staff?

[cindy_du]

I'm really sorry, but due to a small bout of illiteracy, I seem to have read something wrong. Could I possibly enter one team for scarsdale in the STANDARD division instead please? Sorry!

[Standard-winged Nightjar]

I'll be getting final word tomorrow on exact locations and times. At that point, I'll start working on finalizing who all is coming for each event, and figuring out formats and such. In the meantime, if people aren't playing, then sure, extra readers for any events would be great.

[Standard-winged Nightjar]

Update: all three days of this tournament have been moved to Ben Franklin Middle School in Ridgewood (this is less than a mile from the high school, so it shouldn't pose any problems. If people need to be picked up at the train station, we can make that work). The times we have available are as follows:
Friday: 4pm-10pm
Saturday: 9am-7pm
Sunday: 9am-6pm

Opening meetings will be at 4:30 on Friday, and 9:15 on both Saturday and Sunday, with the tournaments expected to begin at 4:50, 9:40 and 9:40. If you have expressed interest (or if you haven't yet but would like to come) please confirm your teams with me as soon as you can. Thanks!

[WSchneider]

Ill remove RPI interest for sunday but put in interest for Friday. We have half a packet completed as of now.

[The Predictable Consequences]

Ardsley would like to register one team for Saturday in the expert division.

I'm also officially looking for a team for Friday. I cover a lot of things, but mostly Americana, religion, and hard science.

[felix]

GNS will go ahead and add a standard division team for Saturday.

[jonpin]

BCA is confirmed as a team for Saturday. I'll try to figure out soon if we're on for Sunday as well.

[serasuna]

Hunter will be there with 4 readers for Friday, 2 expert division teams for Saturday, and one team for Sunday.

Do the reader discounts on Friday count towards Saturday or Sunday? We won't have a team playing Friday, but we will have 4 people reading.

EDIT: Our Friday teams will be playing in expert.

[SunWukong]

I'm afraid that this tournament falls squarely in the middle of my trip to London, so I will be unable to attend. Brown and/or GDS may field teams, but I know nothing about any plans beyond Adam Horowitz's interest and that a group of RM people possibly including Samantha are coming.

[Nun's puffs]

Pending Ridgewood's own offerings for rooms, Stony Brook's Sunday team (and I guess at least one person for a KP team and three people for Ward Melville on Saturday) is more or less confirmed. (As in, when are the room offerings being announced?)

[Banana Stand]

St. Joe's will have one standard division team for Saturday and one team for Sunday.

[Rothlover]

Is anyone passing by exit 9 of the Turnpike? I have interest in this, in some form, for s & giggles... I can comp gas. Also, East Brunswick or Kushner Yeshiva affiliations represent?

[Standard-winged Nightjar]

Is anyone passing by exit 9 of the Turnpike? I have interest in this, in some form, for s & giggles... I can comp gas. Also, East Brunswick or Kushner Yeshiva affiliations represent?

Adam Horowitz who just graduated from East Brunswick is interested in attending and looking for teammates. Sounds like a good match. Also, if you need to train it up from Exit 9, that shouldn't be too difficult.

[Standard-winged Nightjar]

Anyone who needs rooming space, please email or PM me directly. We should have enough space available for anyone interested, just read the caveat in the opening post regarding a small contribution to those who host.

[Standard-winged Nightjar]

Hunter will be there with 4 readers for Friday, 2 expert division teams for Saturday, and one team for Sunday.

Do the reader discounts on Friday count towards Saturday or Sunday? We won't have a team playing Friday, but we will have 4 people reading.

EDIT: Our Friday teams will be playing in expert.

This doesn't make sense. Do you mean your Saturday teams will be playing expert? You had said you wouldn't have a team on Friday - can you clarify your intentions please?

[GrahamReid]

If there's no need for staff Friday, then I, and maybe one or other two Hanover players could be a late addition to a partially filled team.

[The Predictable Consequences]

If there's no need for staff Friday, then I, and maybe one or other two Hanover players could be a late addition to a partially filled team.

I'm currently working my way through a packet--we could team up if you'd like.

[MWYang]

Valley Stream South is interested on attending Saturday.

[GrahamReid]

If there's no need for staff Friday, then I, and maybe one or other two Hanover players could be a late addition to a partially filled team.

I'm currently working my way through a packet--we could team up if you'd like.

PM sent

David, in your initial post there's still a disclaimer about building reservations for Sunday, is this still accurate? Your later post seemed to say otherwise.

[Standard-winged Nightjar]

David, in your initial post there's still a disclaimer about building reservations for Sunday, is this still accurate? Your later post seemed to say otherwise.

No, we have secured the building for all three days (the middle school, not the high school, just keep in mind). I'll adjust accordingly.

[serasuna]

This doesn't make sense. Do you mean your Saturday teams will be playing expert? You had said you wouldn't have a team on Friday - can you clarify your intentions please?

Yeah sorry about that. Our Saturday teams will be playing expert. We'll have 4 readers for Friday.

[Rothlover]

If anyone wants/needs a proper hotel, PM or e-mail me, and I can help. It seems most close hotels are in Paramus. Also, I'd be interested in playing film if that doesn't happen at KABO Maryland, if people will express interest.

[Scaled Flowerpiercer]

I can say for certain now that Irvington will have 1 "expert" team on Saturday and 1 team on Sunday.

Also, it didn't seem like anyone was interested when I mentioned it before, but if there is interest for the YMIR mythology tournament among people who haven't heard it/will not be hearing it at upcoming mirrors, I could probably run it on one of these days.

[Standard-winged Nightjar]

The issue with regards to side events is that while we have the run of the building for free (no custodial fees even) all three days, we don't have access in the evenings (except on Friday til 10) when it would make sense to run side events. I suppose you can borrow a buzzer system or two and try and find an outlet somewhere or play slap bowl in the parks in Ridgewood, but I'm not going to be able to formally organize any side events here. That's not to stop anyone else from taking the lead, but I'm recusing myself from that side of things.

[gneissisnice]

I can say for certain now that Irvington will have 1 "expert" team on Saturday and 1 team on Sunday.

Also, it didn't seem like anyone was interested when I mentioned it before, but if there is interest for the YMIR mythology tournament among people who haven't heard it/will not be hearing it at upcoming mirrors, I could probably run it on one of these days.

I'd be interested in doing a mythology tournament if there's enough people for it. Can't speak for the others on my team though.

[Scaled Flowerpiercer]

I can say for certain now that Irvington will have 1 "expert" team on Saturday and 1 team on Sunday.

Also, it didn't seem like anyone was interested when I mentioned it before, but if there is interest for the YMIR mythology tournament among people who haven't heard it/will not be hearing it at upcoming mirrors, I could probably run it on one of these days.

I'd be interested in doing a mythology tournament if there's enough people for it. Can't speak for the others on my team though.

Well, if there is a very small number of people, and then we could "borrow a buzzer system or two and try and find an outlet somewhere or play slap bowl in the parks in Ridgewood" in lieu of actually having a tournament of it, if people wanted to (and if my ride home isn't averse to it...).

[armitage]

If it's not too late to join in, York Chen and I will be your 10th team for the Friday tournament. If us writing a packet makes it easier to work out logistics, please let us know.

Since Zihan can't make it anymore, this also means that Hunter can only have 3 readers for Friday.

[Standard-winged Nightjar]

If it's not too late to join in, York Chen and I will be your 10th team for the Friday tournament. If us writing a packet makes it easier to work out logistics, please let us know.

Since Zihan can't make it anymore, this also means that Hunter can only have 3 readers for Friday.

Okay, sure. And yes, writing a packet would be great. Anyone else who wants in for Friday should let me know asap. In any case, everyone who is competing Friday should be writing a packet.

[Standard-winged Nightjar]

Also, provided the remaining packets come in, we are going to run a full 10 team round robin on Friday, with rounds beginning at 4:45 and running at 30 minute intervals. We'll have snacks during the tournament, but there will not be a break for dinner until we finish, so plan accordingly.

[Nun's puffs]

Wouldn't 10 teams mean we would need to have 2 byes per round? One team would have to sit out due to their packet being read, and you can't have an odd number of teams playing in a round.

[jonpin]

Just checking, how many blind packets do you have for finals/tiebreakers?

[Nun's puffs]

I'd like to moderate on Saturday. I'll play solo as Kings Park if and only if either there is absolutely no need for another competent moderator or the number of teams gets messed up without another team.

[jonpin]

I'll come to read/staff Friday as needed, Bergen will have one "expert" division team on Saturday, and there's a good chance Wash U will have a solo team to get slaughtered on Sunday (but no Bergen team).

[The Predictable Consequences]

Wouldn't 10 teams mean we would need to have 2 byes per round? One team would have to sit out due to their packet being read, and you can't have an odd number of teams playing in a round.

If a scab team were found/created, they could play the bye team whose packet was not being read, and allow all the packet-submitting teams nine games.

[Standard-winged Nightjar]

I'd like to moderate on Saturday. I'll play solo as Kings Park if and only if either there is absolutely no need for another competent moderator or the number of teams gets messed up without another team.

Great, thanks a lot, we can definitely use the help.

[Yeah, that's a thing]

Wouldn't 10 teams mean we would need to have 2 byes per round? One team would have to sit out due to their packet being read, and you can't have an odd number of teams playing in a round.

If a scab team were found/created, they could play the bye team whose packet was not being read, and allow all the packet-submitting teams nine games.

This is a good idea.

[jmannor2]

Is the Sunday tournament or Saturday Tournament using harder questions?

[Standard-winged Nightjar]

Is the Sunday tournament or Saturday Tournament using harder questions?

They're roughly comparable - Sunday is probably slightly easier. The bigger difference is that the field (in the expert/college division) looks to be significantly stronger on Saturday than Sunday. Either way, just let me know as soon as you can what your plans are.

[The Predictable Consequences]

Just checking, how many blind packets do you have for finals/tiebreakers?

[Standard-winged Nightjar]

Just checking, how many blind packets do you have for finals/tiebreakers?

Checking into this (along with general format for tomorrow) this afternoon. Still need to finalize arrangements with some people who I'm not sure are coming or not.

[Standard-winged Nightjar]

The email to all attending teams has gone out. I'll do one last field update tomorrow once I hear back from the last remaining on-the-fencers for Sat and Sun. Hope everyone who's coming is looking forward to a great weekend!

[ProfessorIanDuncan]

Will the stats be posted anywhere? It seemed like it was important despite the fact that this was a just for fun tournament. I can certainly say that I enjoyed myself. It was nice meeting new people and seeing the people I knew again. I hope that the other two days are just as enjoyable.

[Standard-winged Nightjar]

Congratulations to team DCC (Collin Parks, Matt Messana, Connor Teevens, Robert Cernak) for winning Day 1 of the Ridgewood Summer Invitational. They went 3-0 in the upper bracket to Hunter's (York & Richard) 2-1, Kellenberg (Marisol, James L., Sam & David Xu from Hunter) and Ardsley (which was actually Ryan + Siddhartha Jayanti, Matt Jin, and Graham Reid - all from Hanover) were the other two top bracket teams. Full standings to come by Sunday; individual stats should be up towards the end of next week.

[Standard-winged Nightjar]

Congratulations to DCC (Expert Divisions) and to Hanover (Standard Division) for their victories on Day 2 of the Ridgewood Summer Invitational. Runners up were Hunter A in the Expert (the DCC / Hunter match went to a tiebreak - Collin Parks powered a history question for the win) and St. Joe's in the Standard (not High Tech, as originally reported - thanks to Jon Pinyan for catching my oversight). Both St. Joe's and High Tech finished in the upper bracket with 6-4 records overall, but St. Joe's had a total of 3365 points overall to High Tech's 2875.
I hope everyone enjoyed the set - comments/praise/thanks to Adam Silverman of Centennial for providing it - all the feedback I heard was positive. Thanks also to everyone for their patience for dealing with the fire alarm issue. Obviously, I'm sorry about that, though we had no way of foreseeing it, and we did a pretty good job of making up time after that.
A big thank you to all our moderators, especially Andrew Ibendahl, Alec Johnsson, and Susan Madden who came and read all day despite no affiliation with any teams in the draw. Good luck to all those coming tomorrow - full order of finish will be posted late tomorrow in all likelihood with individual stats to follow later this week.

[Weighted Companion Cube]

Thanks a lot for hosting this. I, and the whole DCC crew, had a lot of fun and this was worth the 11+ hour drive. Is it possible I could get a copy of the set from Friday.

[Nun's puffs]

Okay so like, this event was awesome from a social standpoint. Totally worth the sleep deprivation (no offense to Kara; any lack of sleep was my fault). ATTACK was a great set (minus some minor inconsistencies). Running YMIR in Esther's basement was fun (I mean, there was no air conditioning, but nobody's perfect!) However, the Friday set was a bit wonky due to the sparse editing, and Sunday's set definitely suffered from first-time-set-writers-in-over-their-heads syndrome.

[The Predictable Consequences]

Today's set was, to be blunt, awful. It's impossible to pin down one major flaw in the set because there were so many of them, and many of them are fundamental flaws of question-writing. Transparent tossups, hoses, extremely variable bonus difficulty, and bad grammar (at times this was painful to read) plagued the set. The set as a whole seemed to struggle from a lack of detailed editing; notably, the categories that were edited by some of the people brought in to salvage the set were head and shoulders ahead of the rest (the history distribution in particular seemed very transparent and lateral thinking-filled). This was a set that was rushed ahead in order to fit an event it was not prepared for, and it showed.

The above, however, should not be taken as a criticism of the Ridgewood team or the members who wrote questions. To the best of my knowledge, this was the first time anyone on the Ridgewood team had written for any full-length tournament, and it is impossible for any first-time writer to have a reasonable sense of how to write a question set, especially with the limited guidance that the Ridgewood team was given. The task set before Ridgewood was Herculean: research and write a tournament in about three months, when you have no idea where to start and it turns out that the majority of the editing won't be started until a week before the tournament. Consequently, no one should have been surprised (and I don't think that too many were surprised) when the set turned out badly. However, there is a positive side to all this. Ridgewood is still a young team with a lot of enthusiasm and potential, and with guidance and experience, they could very well end up contributing to a good set.

To any Ridgewooders reading this: This post, made to the Torrey Pines team about the disaster of a set that was their collaboration with Richard Montgomery, covers many of the issues that you faced in the production of this tournament, and offers suggestions about how to move forward. Not all of it applies to your situation, but there certainly are things to pull out of it. Even better for your club moving forward, Max Schindler recently posted a really, really good guide on how to write a housewrite. Read it, even if you aren't planning on writing anything for a while. It'll help you understand the problems this faced better and how you can use this experience as a positive one for your club.

[Charles Martel]

Who would have guessed that a group of first-time writers and average quizbowlers couldn't write a set in 3 months? After 3 years of DAFT, RM/TP/Bellarmine/Wikipedia, and now this, I wonder if quizbowl will ever learn (a) how much effort and experience it takes to write a good set and (b) when and when not to trust sets.