New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

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Edward Powers
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New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by Edward Powers »

All New Jersey students interested in trying out for New Jersey's NASAT Team that will be traveling to Ohio State University from June 14 to June 16 should know that try-outs are scheduled for either April 20th at Princeton University AFTER the NAQT State Championship is over, or, if time or room constraints make such competitions impossible, we will try to hold them the next day at a New Jersey High School that offers it facilities. Right now Saint Joseph High School in Metuchen might be the venue that is chosen, but nothing is written in stone yet.

To be candid, it is hoped that all competitions can be held at Princeton on the 20th. We have permission to use some rooms after States are over, but what is not yet clear is how much time or how many rooms can and will be provided. We hope to receive answers to these questions ASAP.

But to aid in planning for all of this, we need to know how many students are truly interested in competing, and in what categories. We have secured a sufficient number of pristine questions to hold competitions in 4 specialized areas: Science, Literature, History and the Humanities (with the latter defined as the Fine & Performing Arts as well as RMP). The winners in these 4 categories will join the two highest vote-getters in the Coaches All State Balloting to create our team of 6 players for NASAT. The Top 2 will be considered our strongest overall players, our generalists, and then we will try to identify the remaining best players in each of the 4 broad sub-fields that will be tested at NASAT.

Several things should be made clear: First, going to NASAT does involve financial expenses, and over the last 2 years those costs have been in the $350.00-$375.00 range/person, and we expect this year's costs to be similar. In general, most High Schools have paid for their own students to attend, but there have been a couple of exceptions, so this should be known from the outset. Second, to keep costs down, the NASAT team will drive to Columbus, not fly, since airline costs are prohibitive, so this should also be known. Third, we would like to offer students the opportunity to compete for up to 2 of the 4 seats available, but this may not be possible. It will depend upon overall interest ( more students=more time needed) , the time and rooms allowed at Princeton, and/or our ability to find an independent venue, probably the next day, the 21st, and probably, but not definitely, at Saint Joe's.

But assume for now that all will be done at Princeton on April 20th, and that the Princeton organizers are correct in suggesting that the State Championship Tournament will end circa 4:30 PM. If this is true, and if we can stay at Princeton until about 7:30 PM, and if we have access to 4 separate rooms near each other (our hope and expectation), then we believe we can allow students to try out for up to 2 seats, so that is what we will plan for here, with the understanding that if there is not enough student interest in competing for 2 seats, then we can of course reduce the number of rounds and time needed, making the Princeton option virtually a certainty.

Conversely, if great and broad interest is shown, then we might have to consider switching to a new day and venue to make the competitions available to all and thus keep them fair.

But again, we will assume for now that the Princeton option is workable even when allowing students to compete for two seats. Consequently, two more caveats must then be mentioned: Do not plan on having time to leave in order to eat until all competitions are over, so have a big lunch and bring some snacks, AND, if you have traveled to Princeton in a school bus, make sure your bus driver(s) know that you might not be finished until circa 7:30 PM.

So, to help us plan, now it is up to you: If you are really interested, respond right here on this forum to let us know that you are and which seat or seats (remember, a max of 2) you wish to compete for. Depending on the numbers we see by Friday, April 12th, we can determine what venue we need to use and how many rounds of competition we will probably hold. The Friday date allows us time to prudently reflect on the best steps to take next and to communicate them to you in a timely fashion, so that everyone involved knows what to expect concerning these competitions. Further, it also allows sufficient leisure for all to remember that prior to the NASAT competitions, a STATE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP is going to be decided, and we would not want to allow the NASAT competitions to diminish this central truth and fact in any way.

So, given all of this, who is passionately interested in the Science Competition? History? Lit? Humanities?

Sign up here as soon as you read this, and, spread the word to others in the quizbowl community.
Last edited by Edward Powers on Fri Apr 05, 2013 9:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by conquerer7 »

I'm very interested in Science and sorta interested in Literature.

Will there definitely be six people on the team? What if one of the generalists wins a specialist competition, or somebody wins two?
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Re: New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by Edward Powers »

The idea is to have 6 players, so if someone wins 2 seats---let's say you in Science and Lit, then we would let you pick one---let's say Science---then whoever finished 2nd in Lit would then take the Lit seat. Also, the 2 generalists do not have to compete, but they can choose to. But the same rule would then apply to that person that applied to you in the earlier example---the generalist would pick one seat, and whoever finished behind the generalist in the competition he did not choose would take the now vacant seat.

Where we could lose players might be later if, for example, their schools will not defray their expenses and they decide they cannot personally afford the costs themselves. So, the idea is to have 6' but there could be fewer depending upon other variables that might crop up.
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Re: New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by karav0 »

Could you please put me down as interested in Humanities and Literature?
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Re: New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by Edward Powers »

I can confirm that the Princeton organizers will allow us the rooms and the time we need to discover our 2013 NASAT team, so we will not need to worry about selecting another day and venue for our NASAT competitions.
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Re: New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by Redgrass1 »

I'm interested in humanities and Literature.
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Re: New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by ProfessorIanDuncan »

If I end up going to NJ States and that ends up being the venue, could I do this just to see how I'd compare?
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Re: New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by Insolvency law of Canada »

I am interested in attending the History tryouts; Sean McBride wishes to attend the science tryouts; Srishti Srivastava and Stephen Badger want to attend humanities and literature.
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Re: New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by Iluvatar343 »

I'm interested in Humanities and science.
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Re: New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by lumosityfan »

I'm interested in trying out for Science and History.
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Re: New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by Banana Stand »

I'll try out for History and Lit.
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Re: New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by Edward Powers »

Ten students have signed up for the 4 NASAT competitions, with almost all choosing to compete in 2 disciplines, with the following breakdown: 4 in Science; 6 in Literature; 5 in the Humanities and 3 in History. All 5 of those who signed up for the Humanities also registered for Literature, so we will structure the playoffs as follows:

In Round 1, we will have competitions in Science and Literature. Since the numbers in both groups are small, we will crown a Champion in each group without moving to a 3rd Round of playoffs.

In Round 2, we will have competitions in History and the Humanities, and once again, since the number of competitors will be small, we will not hold preliminaries in theses categories either but finish this Round with 2 more Champions. The 4 Champions will join the two generalists selected earlier in the day to create our 6 person NASAT team.

If it so happens that more students wish to sign up to compete on April 20th, they can, but these students must recognize two things: First, that they might only be able to compete in one discipline if the two they wish to compete in are being held in the same Round. Second, we will limit the total number of competitors in each discipline to 10, so, in Science we will only accept a max of 6 more, in Lit, only 5 more, in Humanities, 5 more, and in History, 7 more. Students may sign up here, online, or at Princeton on the 20th. First come first served in each discipline.

Finally, we wish to apologize to the one student who signed up for both Science and Lit, which means he must make a choice. Since he said he was only "sorta" interested in Lit, we concluded that of all the inevitable conflicts possible when we created the Rounds as we did, this inevitable conflict would end up being the least painful. Still, our apologies to our young scientist from High Tech, who knows that the laws of physics prevent one from being in two places at one time.

Finally, we assume that this playoff structure will allow us to finish in a timely fashion, certainly no later than 7:00 or 7:30 the latest, assuming that States finish around 4:30-5:00.
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Re: New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by samus149 »

What will the actual structure of the tryouts be? Will it be purely tossups, or can we find a way to work in bonuses?
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Re: New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by Edward Powers »

Toss-ups only.
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Re: New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by karav0 »

Is there any word yet on what set will be used for try-outs?
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Re: New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by Redgrass1 »

Another player interested in history and literature is Thomas Cleary from Ridgewood.
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Re: New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by Edward Powers »

Esther, thanks for the update on Thomas Cleary. And Kara, we will keep the name of the set being used for try-outs a mystery until after Saturday's competitions. All you need to know is that it is a pristine set for this region written by a well respected, experienced and talented group of writers.

Edit: I may regret asking this, given the trouble Ridgewood has given my A Team this year, but what the heck, since we like competition: Your team is not yet on the list of registered teams for States this Saturday. Aren't you interested in competing for NAQT's NJ State Championship? Or have you registered under the name of " The Bowlers"? BTW, is Matt trying out for any NASAT seat? I ask because several weeks ago he indicated a general interest, but I do not see a specific field for which he wishes to compete. And finally, since a fair number of Ridgewood players have signed up for NASAT competitions, could Ridgewood also bring at least one buzzer set to make sure we have enough for 2 rooms and 2 rounds? SJHS will provide the 2nd buzzer.
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Re: New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by karav0 »

We emailed Dennis but he has not yet updated his post at this time. I believe Matthew expressed interest for science and humanities, but I will ask him to make a post to confirm his entry. Ridgewood is bringing two buzzers sets for Princeton, so we're fine with providing a set for try-outs.
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Re: New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by Redgrass1 »

Matt is a confirmed Science and humanities person.
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Re: New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by lumosityfan »

Also, my friend Ria is interested in Literature and my friend Howard is interested in History.
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Re: New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by lumosityfan »

Edit: Ria is intereested in History
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Re: New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by karav0 »

Sanjana Rajagopal would like to try out for history and lit, Ben Bechtold would like to try out for history.
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Re: New Jersey NASAT Try-Outs in April

Post by Edward Powers »

Right now it looks like we will have 6 competitors in Science, 7 each in Lit and Humanities, and 8 in History. So it looks like there should be some interesting competitions, while it should also be noted that there are very few spots left open for those who might want to register to compete in the morning. So, first come, first served in such a situation.
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