The Quizbowl Resource Center

To any Ohio, West Virginia, Michigan, or Pennsylvania teams:

If we (Solon HS) were to hold an NAQT-format tournament on May 15th using introductory or regular series packets and qualifying for Nationals, what do you think would be the level of interest? Enough that we could make up a 18-36 team invitational just of Ohio teams? Just tossing the idea out there.

I would hope that we would get a favorable response, given that currently no NAQT-format tournaments are held anywhere in Ohio.

I'm not officially affiliated with any WV teams, but there might be a couple of interested teams that I could bring this up to. There are a couple of potential problems that would come up (money, seniors getting out early, other crap), but the biggest problem would be that this is two months after the state championship. Most teams pretty much shut down after that, save for the two or three who decide to go to nationals.

However, you might be able to cull a team or two over there from here. If I were you, I'd contact JR Bellas from Tippecanoe. He'd likely be interested, and it seems like he has the ins to enough people in your state that your tournament could be a success.

A couple of problems depending on whether you see them as problems.

I am guessing that could be the weekend of the OAC state championship tournament. Not sure, but check on that. It may not matter for 8 teams, but it may throw in a monkey-wrench for some of them if you are trying to target them.

Qualification for various nationals doesn't have a set timeline, but since the nationals start within 2-5 weeks after your date, it is unlikely anyone will use that opportunity to qualify for any nationals. However, you could pitch it for "practice" for NAQT HSCT.

Also, I thought Ada had once used NAQT questions for their comp. Please confirm if any of you know.

As far as OAC States go, that's May 1st.

I would have liked to hold such a tournament at an earlier date, but insane scheduling conflicts make that the only date possible. I guess the only way to promote it would either be as practice for teams that have already qualified or an introduction to teams that have not made it and want such a taste. This would lead me to use regular packets and not introductory, as hardly any tournaments use introductory.

And as far as Ada's tournament goes, don't get me started. Who the hell holds an 8-team NAQT tournament on a Monday? They do use NAQT sets, but the accessibility issues (the TD only reserves slots for county teams) make the state situation such that our proposed tournament for 95% of the state might as well be the only NAQT tournament in state.

We plan on promoting this at Buzzerpalooza, Copley, etc. I might also ask Dwight Kidder or Erin Korber to pass out some material at Pittsburgh if it's not too much trouble for them.

I'll speak to Mr. Bellas on Januray 24th at Michigan State.

Tippecanoe would certainly try to come. We wouuld love to have a large NAQT format tournament in Ohio. I'll talk to Mr. Bellas when we come back from break.