Search found 595 matches

by btressler
Thu Aug 13, 2020 9:58 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: Why are there negs in QB?
Replies: 17
Views: 4986

Re: Why are there negs in QB?

I believe the historical context of the neg comes from College Bowl. They wanted to discourage early buzzing so the audience heard almost all of the question. And those tossups were at most 3 sentences, and often less. Perhaps someone else with better knowledge can support or refute this. As a coach...
by btressler
Fri Jul 31, 2020 9:22 am
Forum: Quizbowl History Forum
Topic: Greatest Upsets in Quizbowl History
Replies: 74
Views: 77812

Re: Greatest Upsets in Quizbowl History

My favorite head-scratching result is Nittany Bowl 1994. The Princeton team that won the tournament took its only two losses to low-ranked opponents in the prelims. (Yes, I was on the Dickinson team that caused one of those defeats, and I can't believe the results are still on the Internet.) This De...
by btressler
Fri May 22, 2020 10:58 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Paired Tossups and Bonuses
Replies: 52
Views: 28721

Re: Paired Tossups and Bonuses

Mike Bentley wrote: Thu May 21, 2020 5:45 pm The hotter take is that bonuses end up making a difference in a very small number of games.
I've often wondered if anyone has analyzed a tossup/bonus tournament to see how the records change if only the tossup points were in play. Does anyone have data to share?
by btressler
Tue Jan 28, 2020 1:05 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: PSACA - Three Rivers
Replies: 7
Views: 7044

Re: PSACA - Three Rivers

BulldogBuzzers wrote: Mon Jan 27, 2020 1:04 pm Sent an email a few days ago with a mirror request for April 18 at Berwick PA for Bulldog Buzzer Battle III. Please let us know if we can mirror - thanks!
I added you to the list and will send other details.
by btressler
Thu Nov 14, 2019 6:54 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: PSACA - Three Rivers
Replies: 7
Views: 7044

Re: PSACA - Three Rivers

crbirdx wrote: Sat Nov 09, 2019 8:23 am We'd like to use this on 1/11/20 @ Olentangy Berlin HS
Mirror list updated. Thanks.
by btressler
Tue Sep 10, 2019 10:00 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Paired Tossups and Bonuses
Replies: 52
Views: 28721

Re: Paired Tossups and Bonuses

One of TJ's tournaments (the one that used to be MLK weekend I believe) used to do this. If you answered a tossup on say Alexander the Great, you got a bonus about the lands he conquered. Or perhaps films about Alexander.

I wouldn't want it every week, but I kinda liked it.
by btressler
Thu Aug 01, 2019 9:52 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: PSACA - Three Rivers
Replies: 7
Views: 7044

Re: PSACA - Three Rivers

Mirror list: 9/28/19: Southside Starter , Greenville, SC 10/19/19: Chicago Christian Knights Novice , Chicago, IL 10/19/19: Falcon Kickoff Frosh/Soph at Wheaton North , Wheaton, IL 10/27/19: GHOST at Hanover HS, Hanover, NH 11/9/19: Butterfield Memorial JV , Moline, IL 12/7/19: East Lawrence Tournam...
by btressler
Thu Aug 01, 2019 9:40 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: PSACA - Three Rivers
Replies: 7
Views: 7044

PSACA - Three Rivers

I am pleased to announce this year’s Pennsylvania State Academic Coaches Association's event, titled Three Rivers. I am working with the Missouri Quizbowl Alliance, who is providing editors. There are 12 rounds of 22 power-marked tossups and 22 three-part bonuses, which you are welcome to play as 20...
by btressler
Tue Jun 11, 2019 11:36 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: A proposed Singles format
Replies: 0
Views: 4391

A proposed Singles format

I just wanted to put this out there because I don't run events anymore and may not get a chance to implement it. Backstory: I enjoyed playing Loyola Academy's CAHLFS at the 2012 HSNCT. (Winning it and getting tossups right in the final probably influence my memory.) When they didn't hold the event a...
by btressler
Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:00 am
Forum: Quizbowl History Forum
Topic: The Deep Bench Format
Replies: 6
Views: 10976

Re: The Deep Bench Format

I may mis-remember, as I never played. But I think I may have talked to Eric Hilleman about it. There were probably 7 or 9 teams, and it was an invitational in the strict sense: teams had to be invited. You brought 8 players. Each played quads and then either singles or doubles. (Don't know if teams...
by btressler
Tue Apr 09, 2019 10:11 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: ICT format and seeding discussion
Replies: 74
Views: 45203

Re: The ICT format is awful and unfair (or: why I now play for the "Ann Arbor Campus, University of Michigan")

Considering the inherent variability with NAQT format Because teams don't split rounds when they play in other formats and see the result swing 330 points in their favor the second time around. If the results are supposed to exactly follow the seedings, then why bother to play the matches? This dis...
by btressler
Mon Jan 07, 2019 8:59 am
Forum: Databases and Quizbowl Software
Topic: Alexa can now read bonuses to you
Replies: 0
Views: 4704

Alexa can now read bonuses to you

I would like to thank Fred Morlan and IQBT for giving me permission to do this. I have published an Alexa skill capable of reading bonus questions. This skill currently includes the first 5 rounds of the 2018 NASAT. I will add rounds as I get time. It is free to enable. Keep in mind the voice recogn...
by btressler
Wed Aug 15, 2018 8:29 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: NASAT Mirror at Valencia College: August 18
Replies: 17
Views: 7528

Re: NASAT Mirror at Valencia College: August 18

You have forgotten a team from the top post.

The team name for "Delaware People" is "Casa di Pellegrini South"

The players are Andrew Goldstein, Mark Pellegrini, Nate Pochomis, and Bill Tressler
by btressler
Fri Aug 10, 2018 1:56 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: The State of Good Quizbowl, State-by-State
Replies: 61
Views: 51501

Re: The State of Good Quizbowl, State-by-State

robmms wrote:What can I do
I don't have an official PSACA title, but I am sure the Pennsylvania organization would be glad to help if your school or someone around you could hold a tournament on questions similar to this set.

I also recommend the SCOP set as an introduction to pyramidal quizbowl.
by btressler
Wed Aug 01, 2018 3:26 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: PSACA 2: Groundhog Day
Replies: 2
Views: 5142

Re: PSACA 2: Groundhog Day

Mirror list: 10/06/18 Nittany Lion Novice IV in State College, Pennsylvania 10/20/18 Philly Fall Invitational in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 10/20/18 Falcon Kickoff Frosh-Soph at Wheaton North in Wheaton, Illinois 10/20/18 Chicago Christian Novice in Palos Heights, Illinois 10/27/18 Mellon Bowl XVI i...
by btressler
Wed Aug 01, 2018 3:25 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: PSACA 2: Groundhog Day
Replies: 2
Views: 5142

PSACA 2: Groundhog Day

I am pleased to announce this year’s Pennsylvania State Academic Coaches Association's event, titled Groundhog Day. The majority of this tournament is written. We will probably playtest these questions at Great Valley in September, so my tentative availability date is September 29th, 2018. The tourn...
by btressler
Wed Apr 18, 2018 4:38 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: PSACA presents: The Philly Cheesesteak
Replies: 8
Views: 8639

Re: PSACA presents: The Philly Cheesesteak

These questions are now available on the database.

You may also access them directly on Google drive.
by btressler
Thu Mar 29, 2018 8:21 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: PSACA presents: The Philly Cheesesteak
Replies: 8
Views: 8639

PSACA presents: The Philly Cheesesteak

Last call for this set.

On behalf of PSACA, I would like to thank the dozen sites that have used these questions. If there are no more requests, I will release the set after the Berwick, PA mirror on 4/14.
by btressler
Tue Feb 06, 2018 8:54 am
Forum: Databases and Quizbowl Software
Topic: An Alexa quizbowl skill is now available
Replies: 2
Views: 6329

An Alexa quizbowl skill is now available

Using a nom de logiciel, Will Reede Quizbowl, I have published my first Alexa skill . The skill is free. (*) You can use this on any Alexa device, including Android phones with the Alexa app. This skill gives you a title, and you respond with the author of the work. The categories are American, Brit...
by btressler
Mon Nov 13, 2017 12:19 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: PSACA presents: The Philly Cheesesteak
Replies: 8
Views: 8639

Re: PSACA presents: The Philly Cheesesteak

The statistics from the Falcon Kickoff and the Philly Fall Novice have been posted. The Philadelphia field converted an average of 17.6 tossups a round, and remarkably converted close to 15 points a bonus every prelim round. This set is appropriate for novice fields, and is also usable if you wanted...
by btressler
Sun Sep 17, 2017 9:29 am
Forum: Databases and Quizbowl Software
Topic: Yet another round robin scheduler
Replies: 0
Views: 4071

Yet another round robin scheduler

A few years ago I made this round robin scheduler to teach myself some angularJS. The idea is that you would copy the table off the page and put it into a word document or excel spreadsheet and update the room numbers. Let me know if it produces any bugs, like double scheduling a team in a round or ...
by btressler
Wed Sep 13, 2017 6:59 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: PSACA presents: The Philly Cheesesteak
Replies: 8
Views: 8639

Re: PSACA presents: The Philly Cheesesteak

On behalf of PSACA, I would like to thank the following tournaments for asking to use these questions: Northeast Ohio Quizbowl Conference (starts October) Wheaton North Novice, Illinois (10/21) Moline Fresh-Soph, Illinois (11/4) Carver Novice , Pennsylvania (11/11) Doral Red Rock, Nevada (2/10) The ...
by btressler
Mon Aug 07, 2017 8:27 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: PSACA presents: The Philly Cheesesteak
Replies: 8
Views: 8639

PSACA presents: The Philly Cheesesteak

I am pleased to announce the Pennsylvania State Academic Coaches Association's inaugural event, titled The Philly Cheesesteak. The set will be available for mirrors this year. This tournament is 90% written, and I'm willing to accommodate tournaments as early as September 16th, 2017 if someone asks ...
by btressler
Mon Jun 19, 2017 9:28 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Approximately 20 high school house writes have been announce
Replies: 22
Views: 14423

Re: Approximately 20 high school house writes have been anno

To this list you may add a Pennsylvania set written by me. It is intended to be similar to an A-level and playable by a field appropriate to that kind of set. It could be used by novice tournaments, but I've included some challenging material at the beginning of tossups and the hardest bonus parts s...
by btressler
Sat Jan 28, 2017 6:53 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: MTHS Academic Challenge 1/28/17 Lancaster, PA
Replies: 6
Views: 4940

Re: MTHS Academic Challenge 1/28/17 Lancaster, PA

I believe the top of varsity was

1. Lehigh Valley Academy A
2. Camp Hill A
3. Dowingtown East A
4. Henderson A

Thanks to the Manheim team for running an enjoyable event.
by btressler
Tue Dec 09, 2014 9:07 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: “New” tournament format: “paired prelim brackets”
Replies: 5
Views: 5317

Re: “New” tournament format: “paired prelim brackets”

Swarthmore tried a variation on this many years ago at a QOTC. I think there were 18 teams and you played all the teams in the other two groups of 6. Do you put teams from the same school in the same bracket or different ones? As I recall, Swarthmore put them all in the same bracket. That meant that...
by btressler
Sat Nov 22, 2014 8:28 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Henderson High School Invitational (West Chester, PA) Nov 22
Replies: 9
Views: 5963

Re: Henderson High School Invitational (West Chester, PA) No

Quick results: Emmaus beat Manheim Township A with a 380-250ish score to win the tournament. The 3rd place match saw the 1-person Lehigh Valley Charter team defeat West Chester East A. I think the 3-2 playoff teams (and thus 5th place) were PALCS B and Unionville A, but that could be incorrect. The ...
by btressler
Fri Jun 06, 2014 9:10 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2014 HSNCT discussion
Replies: 135
Views: 75166

Re: 2014 HSNCT discussion

That's not really how NAQT works. If NAQT editors determined that the question was too difficult, they could have used it at an SCT or ICT, or they could have just rejected it. Writers propose a difficulty when they submit a question, but that difficulty is often changed by the editors. Historical ...
by btressler
Tue May 13, 2014 8:40 am
Forum: Middle school area archives
Topic: 2014 NAQT MSNCT: Congratulations Harmony-Excellence!
Replies: 86
Views: 42765

Re: 2014 NAQT MSNCT: Congratulations Harmony-Excellence!

While I don't think MS needs sets of too much variance in difficulty right now, I do think at some point NAQT could go down the same path as NHBB and create an A,B,C set sort of system with packets of different difficulty. I had several good discussions with other NAQT editors over the weekend. One...
by btressler
Tue Apr 08, 2014 2:57 pm
Forum: New High School Teams
Topic: Beginner-level competition in DC/MD/VA area
Replies: 4
Views: 4997

Re: Beginner-level competition in DC/MD/VA area

If you're willing to do a 2 hour drive up I-95, Wilmington Charter hosts a tournament each November which includes a novice division run on an NAQT A level set. Teams such as Richard Montgomery, GDS, and Walter Johnson have made the trip in past years.
by btressler
Sat Mar 08, 2014 6:37 pm
Forum: Middle school area archives
Topic: Charter Challenge - NEW DATE- 3/8/14 - Wilmington, DE
Replies: 18
Views: 8637

Re: Charter Challenge - NEW DATE- 3/8/14 - Wilmington, DE

All teams played 7 prelims and then were placed into single elimination playoffs Varsity order of finish: Top bracket 1st Independence A (7-0, 3-0) 2nd Middlesex A (7-0, 2-1) 3rd Longfellow A (7-0, 1-1, 1-0) 4th Independence B (7-0, 1-1, 0-1) 5th Saint Augustine A (6-1, 0-1) 5th Independence C (6-1,...
by btressler
Tue Mar 04, 2014 3:46 pm
Forum: Middle school area archives
Topic: Growing a Middle School Program?
Replies: 3
Views: 2710

Re: Growing a Middle School Program?

I would suggest holding a tournament before next year's TV tournament and advertise it as a warm-up or practice event. You can use the opportunity to expose the teams to quizbowl, and could mention tournaments in other states and nationals. Point out that students can continue the activity in high s...
by btressler
Sat Jan 11, 2014 1:55 pm
Forum: Middle school area archives
Topic: Charter Challenge - NEW DATE- 3/8/14 - Wilmington, DE
Replies: 18
Views: 8637

Re: Charter Challenge - 2/15/14 - Wilmington, DE

Is this date correct?

NAQT currently has "tentatively 2/22" on their website, so that might need an update.
by btressler
Mon Dec 23, 2013 8:42 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: 2014 NAQT SCT: February 8-9
Replies: 35
Views: 12766

Re: 2014 NAQT SCT: February 8-9

The Two Hearts of Kwasi Boachi wrote:Any update on when registration would open?
If you try to register for one of the SCT sites, the website states that registration will open on January 1st.
by btressler
Mon Dec 16, 2013 8:56 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: GVQBT @ Great Valley (Malvern, PA) on 03/29/2014
Replies: 10
Views: 5968

Re: GVQBT @ Great Valley (Malvern, PA) on 03/29/2014

This is really awesome that multiple NAQT tournaments are being held in SE Pennsylvania this year, and if I'm available that day I would be glad to help moderate. Since these are only 30 miles apart, teams should note that this was the same set of questions used in the _JV_ division of Wilmington Ch...
by btressler
Wed Nov 20, 2013 8:53 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 10-team league schedule
Replies: 5
Views: 2482

Re: 10-team league schedule

I think we need a list of things you can / can not do. For example, would your league allow four teams to come together and play 3 matches in one night? Do you want every team playing every other team exactly once, or would a "playoff phase" be OK?
by btressler
Sun Nov 03, 2013 1:14 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: CSWIFT - November 2, 2013 - IS-130
Replies: 45
Views: 22537

Re: CSWIFT - November 2, 2013 - IS-130

Actually, Jeff figured it out for me. Deep Green had its "exhibition team" box checked. I now have almost all matches . What is missing is the information from room 305A in the crossover phase. (Perhaps the scorekeeper forgot to hit save?) Does anyone have information on these matches? If ...
by btressler
Sun Nov 03, 2013 8:59 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: CSWIFT - November 2, 2013 - IS-130
Replies: 45
Views: 22537

Re: CSWIFT - November 2, 2013 - IS-130

Round report? I turned it on, but I'm not sure it provides useful information because the varsity and JV brackets had different question sets. I updated JV -- post any discrepancies here and I'll look into them. Unfortunately when I got "all" the computer scoresheets, I only grabbed the J...
by btressler
Sat Nov 02, 2013 4:42 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: CSWIFT - November 2, 2013 - IS-130
Replies: 45
Views: 22537

Re: CSWIFT - November 2, 2013 - IS-130

I can give you an update: JV is finished. 1. Richard Montgomery C 2. Richard Montgomery D 3. Independence A 4. Longfellow A In varsity, Walter Johnson is 9-0 and Richard Montgomery A is 8-1. If they both win in round 10, they play a final. The statistician got a little behind, so a final version of ...
by btressler
Fri Oct 04, 2013 7:55 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2014 NAQT HSNCT: Congratulations LASA!
Replies: 68
Views: 40340

Re: 2014 NAQT HSNCT: May 31-June 1, Chicago

Is there a page which has all the teams that have qualified for the HSNCT and SSNCT thus far? In the past, no grand list of qualified teams was maintained, but you can get the information from each local tournament. Go to this page and click on a tournament which has submitted its results. For exam...
by btressler
Thu May 30, 2013 8:16 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2013 HSNCT discussion
Replies: 149
Views: 64819

Re: 2013 HSNCT discussion

I don't know if there's a way to make it clearer for similar future questions, but it was hard to realize when spoken aloud that the lower-left corner bit applied to all three parts. I want to add my vote to this. I wrote about half the computation bonuses, including this one. The question's lead-i...
by btressler
Wed May 22, 2013 1:02 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2013 NAQT HSNCT: Congratulations LASA!
Replies: 109
Views: 69143

Re: 2013 NAQT HSNCT: May 25-26, Atlanta

Fixed the above two.
by btressler
Wed May 22, 2013 9:04 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2013 NAQT HSNCT: Congratulations LASA!
Replies: 109
Views: 69143

Re: 2013 NAQT HSNCT: May 25-26, Atlanta

A map of the HSNCT attendees.

Sorry if anyone is mistagged.
by btressler
Sat Mar 23, 2013 9:23 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Blue Hen XV - 3/23, Newark DE [IS-124]
Replies: 7
Views: 3524

Re: Blue Hen XV - 3/23, Newark DE [IS-124]

Going into Round 10, Manheim Township A and Charter A were both 9-0, having cleared the rest of the field by 3 games. The teams split the next 2 packets, and Manheim won the third game to take the title.

Prelims

Playoffs

Combined

Post any stat corrections here and I'll look into them.
by btressler
Sun Mar 03, 2013 10:55 am
Forum: Middle school area archives
Topic: Charter Challenge 3/2/13
Replies: 7
Views: 3834

Re: Charter Challenge 3/2/13

Complete Stats

JV Standings:
1. Independence E
2. Stillman Elementary
3. Independence F
4. Odyssey A
by btressler
Sat Mar 02, 2013 7:39 pm
Forum: Middle school area archives
Topic: Charter Challenge 3/2/13
Replies: 7
Views: 3834

Re: Charter Challenge 3/2/13

Final Standings Varsity 1. Independence B 2. Independence A 3. Longfellow 4. Saint Augustine A Quarters: Independence D Quarters: Newark Charter A Quarters: Newark Charter B Quarters: Newark Charter C Playoff: Saint Augustine B Playoff: Brandywine B Playoff: Brandywine C Standing through prelim matc...
by btressler
Wed Feb 27, 2013 8:46 am
Forum: Middle school area archives
Topic: Charter Challenge 3/2/13
Replies: 7
Views: 3834

Re: Charter Challenge 3/2/13

Ravi can verify this for sure, but at past events registration was 8:30-9:00 and the opening meeting started shortly after.
by btressler
Wed Feb 06, 2013 12:19 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: NAQT Region 3 SCT - University of Delaware (2/9/13)
Replies: 69
Views: 30102

Re: NAQT Region 3 SCT - University of Delaware (2/9/13)

So there apparently is a major snowstorm hitting the northeast Friday night/Saturday morning. The forecast could obviously change but this could potentially screw around with the Delaware site (and possibly the MIT and Cornell sites as well). What I'm seeing at this present second is a "winter...
by btressler
Wed Feb 06, 2013 7:55 am
Forum: College area archives
Topic: NAQT Region 3 SCT - University of Delaware (2/9/13)
Replies: 69
Views: 30102

Re: NAQT Region 3 SCT - University of Delaware (2/9/13)

18 rounds of UVA vs Penn vs Maryland on the Knot go go go I volunteer to read for this. Did somebody drop? I'm only seeing 10 D1 teams today, which would simplify matters. Both Alex and I think we can do extra rounds. What exactly that will look like can get finalized after the field size settles.
by btressler
Tue Feb 05, 2013 6:39 pm
Forum: College area archives
Topic: NAQT Region 3 SCT - University of Delaware (2/9/13)
Replies: 69
Views: 30102

Re: NAQT Region 3 SCT - University of Delaware (2/9/13)

Is it possible to make a schedule with more than 10 games even without a 12th team? Rounds are capped at 20 minutes, and some teams are travelling from pretty far away to play just a little over three hours of quizbowl. I might be able to suggest something, but I need a reminder on a few points: - ...