Search found 46 matches

by bigmac
Mon Oct 22, 2007 3:21 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: RESULTS: TJIAT 07 (10/13/07) at Thomas Jefferson HS
Replies: 67
Views: 26559

Some of RM's playoff results (now that I found them): RMA Final vs. Stuy: 415 - 325 (this is what I had; we checked the score with one left and did not settle whatever disagreement was there because it would not affect the outcome) Incidentally, Stuy is better than last year because they are no long...
by bigmac
Sun Jun 03, 2007 5:49 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: DC/Metro Area 2007-08
Replies: 164
Views: 52890

Is segregold Keith? Keith, what are you talking about? Whitman tied for fifth at nationals; placing in the top 5 again would merely require a repeat performance. You are right in putting the WJ name out there, though I think their improvement over the course of the past year was pretty obvious to an...
by bigmac
Fri Jun 01, 2007 10:09 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: RESULTS: Maggie Walker wins 2007 HSNCT!
Replies: 138
Views: 52008

It's more meaningful to look at points out of points available for various quartiles. Whether the best team converts 500 PPG or 400 PPG from one year to the next doesn't really mean much about the average difficulty. Do you mean average difficulty of the questions or average strength of the field? ...
by bigmac
Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:06 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: RESULTS: Maggie Walker wins 2007 HSNCT!
Replies: 138
Views: 52008

Good point about chords and, granted, the musician who makes that assumption probably would be able to come up with "perfect" if prompted. It is not a correct answer in the strictest sense. I would not go so far as to say I would overturn the reader's decision, only that I could see someon...
by bigmac
Fri Jun 01, 2007 8:59 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: RESULTS: Maggie Walker wins 2007 HSNCT!
Replies: 138
Views: 52008

That was a tough way to lose the match and I really sympathized with Dorman, in spite of the fact that they had just crushed us.* Someone from Dorman said "fourth" soon after the end of the powermark in the question. One of the early clues was something akin to "the interval between m...
by bigmac
Wed May 09, 2007 1:49 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: POSTPONED: Rumble on the Pike (Fall '07) @ R. Montgomery HS
Replies: 10
Views: 5739

Sadly, the tournament has been postponed due a lack of sign-ups. See you in the fall.
by bigmac
Thu Apr 26, 2007 7:55 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Post KMO scores here.
Replies: 23
Views: 9479

RM got 1730. Congrats to SC. 1826 is pretty humbling.
by bigmac
Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:03 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Tournament listing with Stats by IS?
Replies: 12
Views: 4756

MTV was also interviewing some teams and considering a potential show ("from the makers of Made"). I have heard nothing about this since the fall CAV, so it looks like the project fell apart. That is probably a good thing since what MTV would do to quiz bowl might not have been a pretty si...
by bigmac
Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:29 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: RESULTS! Patriot Games at George Mason University (3/31/07)
Replies: 98
Views: 34319

My only regret is that we should have seen that a spring break tournament had only a limited chance of working out.
for us, I mean, not the whole tournament in general. EDIT

Good luck to all.
by bigmac
Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:20 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: RESULTS! Patriot Games at George Mason University (3/31/07)
Replies: 98
Views: 34319

We are sorry for the late notice, but RM needs to cancel its registration. We would have been short-handed anyway and lost another player today. Had there been playoffs we might have been able to field a team that would come close to the caliber of a national qualifier by the afternoon. My only regr...
by bigmac
Tue Mar 27, 2007 10:57 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: RESULTS: WJIAT (3/24) @ Walter Johnson HS (Bethesda,MD)
Replies: 36
Views: 13582

Please note RM B's eerie ability to bring down the total score of a game. I certainly have . . . all year. They seem to have invented the ball-control offense. I know that typically even I frown on sports analogies in quiz bowl, but I can think of no other way to describe what they do. Their streng...
by bigmac
Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:54 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: RESULTS: WJIAT (3/24) @ Walter Johnson HS (Bethesda,MD)
Replies: 36
Views: 13582

Congrats to WJ on a well-run tournament. When you can play 10 games against strong MD/VA/DC competition and be home to put the children to bed (or another less exciting Saturday activity), you have to be happy. We especially liked the power-bracketing and our A-B semifinal, a repeat from last year. ...
by bigmac
Fri Mar 09, 2007 7:28 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: POSTPONED: Rumble on the Pike (Fall '07) @ R. Montgomery HS
Replies: 10
Views: 5739

I wish it did not conflict with the Baltimore It's Ac tapings, but we cannot do Sundays and our own region's taping dates and some other tournaments (States, e.g.) are on the other dates. We wish you could be there, Dhibouti; The questions will be for sale (price TBD). As for AP exams, does your sch...
by bigmac
Thu Mar 08, 2007 2:59 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: POSTPONED: Rumble on the Pike (Fall '07) @ R. Montgomery HS
Replies: 10
Views: 5739

POSTPONED: Rumble on the Pike (Fall '07) @ R. Montgomery HS

This is our preliminary, date-grabbing announcement for Richard Montgomery's 4th annual Rumble on the Pike Academic Tournament. This tournament will be held on May 12th in breath-takingly scenic Rockville just off Rockville Pike. Our field has been quite strong in past years, featuring the usual sla...
by bigmac
Sat Feb 10, 2007 10:36 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Gonzaga Tournament (2/03/07) at GCHS (Washington, DC)
Replies: 28
Views: 12682

Congrats to Gov for winning this event; they seem to be making a strong case for themselves so far. This is really the first time we had a look at the latest edition of Dorman. They are back in a huge way. In particular, they dominated the literature tossups, of which there were many at this tournam...
by bigmac
Thu Dec 07, 2006 10:52 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: KMO Fall 2006 Results
Replies: 25
Views: 10378

Interesting results. I was told that we got a rather distant 4th place on the phone and that a team from New York won the whole thing with a score in the 1800s. It looks like I was right to be skeptical; only the "rather distant" part was right. Does anyone know the story there? I do not w...
by bigmac
Wed Nov 15, 2006 8:06 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: PACE NSC 2007 preliminary announcement
Replies: 32
Views: 16586

Richard Montgomery High School graduation:

Thursday, June 7, 2007
7:00 p.m.
DAR Constitution Hall
Yes, but that announcement is a bit premature; the graduation committee and administrators are still discussing that date and time. The alternative proposal is June 10 on Sunday afternoon.
by bigmac
Wed Nov 15, 2006 8:34 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: PACE NSC 2007 preliminary announcement
Replies: 32
Views: 16586

I believe that RM's graduation is on or near the second weekend of June.
by bigmac
Sun Nov 12, 2006 12:23 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: DC/Metro area 2006-07
Replies: 111
Views: 47154

Sure, it wasn't exactly in the DC Metro area, but the tournament at UVA today involved many of these teams. . . Quick results: 1. Gov A 11-0 2. TJ A 10-1 3. RM A 10-1 4. Gonzaga 9-2 The final between Gov and TJ was extremely close and so was the semi between Gonzaga and TJ, from what I heard. We los...
by bigmac
Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:30 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: DC/Metro area 2006-07
Replies: 111
Views: 47154

After scrimagging against GDS several times this year, I find that GDS is very fast and very tough on quick questions, but they lack the depth of knowledge to be a major threat in tossup bonus. It is too early for me to have such sure opinions; improvement, atrophy, and hot streaks can change the w...
by bigmac
Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:38 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Best Teams In The Country '06-07?
Replies: 105
Views: 47808

In terms of tangible measures of teams, one also must consider powers to negs. This was the biggest weakness of RM last year; we had to power questions just to make up for the 5 or so free tossups we gave away each game. It would also be interesting to look at a few other numbers for comparative pur...
by bigmac
Sat Oct 07, 2006 11:48 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: DC/Metro area 2006-07
Replies: 111
Views: 47154

From what I could tell, these teams all seem to have the capability to beat each other, depending on the questions in any given round. I definitely agree. We split with SC in our two games today. Although we did not play Gov today, I have seen them enough to know that the "chatter" is not...
by bigmac
Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:26 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Tech Triumph HS Tournament (10/7/06) @ VT (Blacksburg, VA)
Replies: 8
Views: 4409

In addition to a conflict with one of the yearly "majors", we also would hesitate to come because you are using a packet that has been on sale since last Spring. We either played at a tournament with these questions or already purchased them ourselves.
by bigmac
Thu Aug 10, 2006 11:31 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Quiz Bowl Tournament in Japan
Replies: 17
Views: 7717

Right, about that. . . Planning this has been equal parts exciting and frustrating. Our team is of course very happy to go compete in Japan and to have a trip to Tokyo. Originally, our itinerary had us flying into Japan on the afternoon of the 17th and flying out on the morning of the 19th with an a...
by bigmac
Wed Jul 26, 2006 8:14 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Ken Jennings tees off
Replies: 1
Views: 2680

Ken Jennings tees off

Has anyone else seen this story? The article did not have a link to the full post, so if someone knows it please post it. If I were the producer of a long-running and successful show, I would be pretty hesitant to change it, too. Jeopardy is not trying to be quiz bowl, it's trying to get boatloads o...
by bigmac
Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:40 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: DC/Metro area 2006-07
Replies: 111
Views: 47154

For me, "DC Metro" is defined more by tournament attendance than regional location. Thus, Baltimore teams are less a part of it then Gov, SC, and even Raleigh Charter. Unfortunately, I see next year as a bit of a down year for Maryland after Montgomery County had three teams finish in the ...
by bigmac
Wed Jun 07, 2006 7:11 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2006 NAQT HSNCT
Replies: 309
Views: 144945

(Not trying to thread jack...) http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/quickie Congrats to Montgomery H.S. (Rockville, Md.) on winning the National H.S. Quiz Bowl title. My alma mater, Walt Whitman H.S. (Bethesda, Md.), finished 16th. D'oh. Now if we could just get them to televise it. :razz: Thanks f...
by bigmac
Tue Jun 06, 2006 8:23 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2006 NAQT HSNCT
Replies: 309
Views: 144945

I was glad to see Sam Lederer at a tournament . . .

. . . as a reader. Please kill all of the comparisons of our team with '05 TJA. All points in their favor granted. If anything, this weekend should demonstrate how very impressive it was that they went undefeated last year. That was a once-in-a-lifetime team. I for one enjoyed this tournament with i...
by bigmac
Fri May 12, 2006 8:40 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Richard Montgomery Rumble on the Pike III
Replies: 49
Views: 21880

The field of 30 teams looks complete. Robinson scratched, but Centennial and Quince Orchard have taken their spots in the field. Check out Kellenberg's $10 registration fee. Remember that registration starts at 8:15 am in the cafeteria (up the front stairs one flight and all the way back). Schedule ...
by bigmac
Fri May 05, 2006 12:42 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Richard Montgomery Rumble on the Pike III
Replies: 49
Views: 21880

That was the best word I could come up with after hearing your assessment of the subtle art of lineup tweaking. Something about darts and lineup cards, I think it was. Just remember that if the right situation came along I would sit you down and make the call to the bullpen of underclassmen. But ser...
by bigmac
Fri May 05, 2006 8:01 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Richard Montgomery Rumble on the Pike III
Replies: 49
Views: 21880

Here is a field update a week out. We would like all registrations in by Tuesday. Please email me or DumbJaques to register. A post here could hold a spot until Tuesday. Teams # Buzzers Total TJ 5 2 210 Blair 1 0 50 GDS 1 1 40 NCS 1 1 40 Churchill 2 1 85 Banneker 1 1 40 WJ 2 1 85 Paint Branch 1 1 40...
by bigmac
Sat Apr 29, 2006 7:46 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 2005-2006 "It's Academic"
Replies: 55
Views: 29919

RM managed to hang on to defeat strong teams from Whitman and St. Anselm's. We were fast out of the gate, but a fumbling of a bonus question made for an interesting and, ultimately, sloppy grab-bag round. I think the score was 490-435-395 or something like that. Zach or dumbjaques can verify it.
by bigmac
Sat Mar 18, 2006 8:47 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Walter Johnson Tournament (WJIAT) 3/18/06 Bethesda, Maryland
Replies: 46
Views: 22422

nice job

Kudos to WJ for an exceptionally well-run tournament. Prelims, modified power-bracketing, and two final games all finished by 5ish . . . you have to love that. Readers were clear, just "fast enough," and decisive in making rulings, especially in the playoffs. All what we would expect from ...
by bigmac
Mon Mar 06, 2006 9:51 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Gonzaga Tournament- Feb. 11th
Replies: 57
Views: 24591

It was nice to finally upset [RMA] after a couple of years of trying. . . . I am just happy we can be competitive with them from time to time. Competitive with us?! Mr. Barnes, you are being way too modest here about GOV A. Two years ago, with the legendary Wren and co., you beat us three out of 5 ...
by bigmac
Mon Feb 06, 2006 3:40 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Univ of Virginia Cavalier Open III - Saturday 2006-02-18
Replies: 43
Views: 19152

This is a great tournament and RM has loved going the past few years. This tourney boasts a great field and is well-run. There was one funny incident last year when a moderator no doubt mistook me for a player and told me to "sit down and shut your mouth." Before our friendly quiz bowl cir...
by bigmac
Wed Apr 20, 2005 7:19 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 4/23/05 - Rumble on the Pike - Richard Montgomery
Replies: 34
Views: 20082

rumble and itsac

Right you are, Howard. Donuts will be provided. :smile: The other thing to mention here is that you can form any team you want for the exhibition games (players vs. coaches, players with players from different teams, etc.) Here are the D.C. It's Ac semi-finals listed according to the brackets provid...
by bigmac
Mon Apr 18, 2005 10:43 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: 4/23/05 - Rumble on the Pike - Richard Montgomery
Replies: 34
Views: 20082

RM playoff format

3 more teams have signed up. We would be fine with one more, but cannot take more than 3 due to some room use limitations. The field, while not enormous, looks quite impressive; good teams that get mentioned on this board make up well over half. (Not that this relates in any way to our format, but 8...
by bigmac
Tue Mar 29, 2005 10:33 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: GDS cancelled
Replies: 1
Views: 1940

GDS cancelled

I am sure that many of you have already heard, but the GDS team has had to cancel its May NAQT tournament due to building renovations. They sent an email out last week.

Too bad. We were hoping to use it as a tune-up for Nationals. Are there any other teams in the region who want to host IS-50?
by bigmac
Wed Mar 09, 2005 11:55 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Any thoughts on the DC area?
Replies: 69
Views: 41701

Longer questions minimize the advantage that players gain from having heard similar questions too many times. I think trial and error touches on the fundamental problem with the use of Keegan questions in the region; they are overused. Sooner or later, if only through sheer repetition, teams get to...
by bigmac
Thu Mar 03, 2005 11:33 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Bring the national poll back to life?
Replies: 17
Views: 9816

The problems of data availability, to say nothing of reliability and completeness, and the difficulty of ranking teams that have never faced each other are real stumbling blocks for a national poll with any claim to validity (after the #1 spot, of course, though only for this year). Formulas and wei...
by bigmac
Thu Mar 03, 2005 11:18 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Is Gov doing a spring tournament?
Replies: 13
Views: 6800

I think RM would send at least two teams, but the calendar is filling up. Sundays seem more open than Saturdays. Has UMD announced a tournament date yet?
by bigmac
Tue Sep 28, 2004 9:23 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Any events near Baltimore/DC on 1/29, 2/12, or 2/26/05?
Replies: 6
Views: 4276

Not certain about it, but my calendar has UVA's Cavalier Open on 2/26. Someone from there could verify that. I seem to recall sending teams to your tournament and the Cav Open on the same day last year, so that might not be a problem for you.
by bigmac
Tue Aug 03, 2004 9:51 am
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Mid-Atlantic tourneys in Oct
Replies: 2
Views: 3212

Mid-Atlantic tourneys in Oct

Wow. By my count, there are 5 tournaments already planned for October for the DC/MD/VA region. That does not even count the Quizmaster Invitational, which is usually scheduled for the middle weeks of October. I have also heard rumors of a Blair tournament early in the year. What tournaments will you...
by bigmac
Mon Jun 14, 2004 10:50 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Pace Nationals Results
Replies: 62
Views: 48596

RM also thanks the PACE staff for a great weekend and congratulates GOV for doing what few would have predicted. The well-written questions were hard and some of the matches grueling, but they need to be if good teams are going to be facing each other. Speaking of which, no one seems to have mention...
by bigmac
Thu Apr 15, 2004 11:06 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Richard Montgomery's Tourney (Rockville, MD) - April 17 '04
Replies: 17
Views: 13199

Add ERA and B, QO, and School Without Walls to the list posted above. Heck of a field. We are still waiting on GDS, but only because we have one spot remaining after a few eleventh hour cancellations. Blake B, Blair C, and WJ B will also be joining the party. As all of the coaches should know after ...
by bigmac
Sun Apr 11, 2004 7:22 pm
Forum: High school area archives
Topic: Richard Montgomery's Tourney (Rockville, MD) - April 17 '04
Replies: 17
Views: 13199

Here is the updated list of registered teams. A few other teams (QO, ER, GDS, and Howard) have expressed interest , but we have yet to receive a final word on them. There is still space available. TJ 6 Magruder 1 Damascus 1 Hammond 2 (or 3?) Bullis 2 BCC 1 McLean 2 Blake 1 Walter Johnson 1 Edmund Bu...