The Quizbowl Resource Center

Hi everybody,

This is an announcement for The University of Maryland's Spring Classic High School Tournament 2011 at the University of Maryland, College Park. We are holding it on Saturday May 21st.

The tournament will be housewritten, with 20/20 rounds and a standard ACF distribution. Our target difficulty is slightly harder than ACF Fall, but less difficult than last year's Maryland Spring Invitational. Round/bracket specifics will be decided once we have a better idea of the field.

The base cost for this tournament will be $70 per team and $60 for each subsequent team per school.

The following discounts are also available:
-$5/buzzer system
-$10/moderator

Rooms and meeting times are TBA once we reserve rooms.

For more information or registration, please e-mail me at [email protected]

The Field so far:
Paint Branch HS- 1
St. Anselm's- 1
Montgomery Blair- 2
Gonzaga- 2
Caesar Rodney- 1
Whitman- 2
GDS- 1
Oakland Mills HS- 1
RM- 2
TJ- 2
BCC- 1
ER- 1
Nondescript High School- 1
Quince Orchard - 1

If you have not officially emailed me to inform me that you are coming, please do so soon.

We'll be there with one team, one buzzer set, and myself to assist in moderating.

I'll confirm with an e-mail in time.

A high school tournament harder than ACF Fall?

sir negsalot wrote:A high school tournament harder than ACF Fall?

NSC will be far, far more difficult than Fall. Why not prepare with something more appropriate at the end of the year?

Last year's almost certainly was. Again, i reference Halldor Laxness.

Carangoides ciliarius wrote:Last year's almost certainly was. Again, i reference Halldor Laxness.

Arun Chonai wrote:He's the only Icelandic Nobel Laureate, you should know him!

Wurzel-Flummery wrote:

Carangoides ciliarius wrote:Last year's almost certainly was. Again, i reference Halldor Laxness.

Arun Chonai wrote:He's the only Icelandic Nobel Laureate, you should know him!

Jacob Durst also says that he's a legitimately great author. I'd say that in the world literature canon, he's important, and there's a decent chance he becomes more known world wide after Iceland is featured at the Frankfurt Buchmesse this Fall.

Inkana7 wrote:

Wurzel-Flummery wrote:

Carangoides ciliarius wrote:Last year's almost certainly was. Again, i reference Halldor Laxness.

Arun Chonai wrote:He's the only Icelandic Nobel Laureate, you should know him!

Jacob Durst also says that he's a legitimately great author. I'd say that in the world literature canon, he's important, and there's a decent chance he becomes more known world wide after Iceland is featured at the Frankfurt Buchmesse this Fall.

Eh, I'd caution against this thought process. I'm not a fan of the use of intersection between "Nobel Prize winner" and "recent exposure" to determine askable questions because then you're relying more on current trends within literature to determine things rather than the significance of their work.

In any case, this tournament will be easier and more accessible than last year. I doubt there will be any Halldor Laxness.

I sent you an email asking about mirroring this set; could you please respond at your earliest convenience? Thanks!

Well, now that I have asked VCU to move their tournament to Sunday, would it be possible for this one to move to May 22? I understand if this is not feasible. Also, what is the current field?

jlchockey94 wrote:Well, now that I have asked VCU to move their tournament to Sunday, would it be possible for this one to move to May 22? I understand if this is not feasible. Also, what is the current field?

It is likely that CR would be unable to attend if this move was made.

Put B-CC down as interested. I can't make any definite commitments until I talk to my coach, but I'd very much like to bring at least one team. I'll do my best to figure it out one way or the other as soon as I can.

If this tournament is low on moderators, I'll be around and would enjoy helping out.

If this tournament is low on moderators, I'll be around and would enjoy helping out.

Thanks man, I'm sure we could use the help.

As for the tournament being moved, I suppose that's up to Paul, but is there an actual reason beyond one dude on GDS wanting it to be on May 22?

DumbJaques wrote:
As for the tournament being moved, I suppose that's up to Paul, but is there an actual reason beyond one dude on GDS wanting it to be on May 22?

VCU is also hosting a tournament on May 21. Since VCU is not very far from UMD-CP, I would assume that there would be some people who would like to go to both. GDS would definitely register for both. I am sorry that it sounded so self-centered. VCU can't because of some Blue Law restriction.

Could we possibly get a field update?

I think we're going to this.

I sent a registration e-mail more than a month or two ago that was responded to by a member of UMCP. Are we not registered anymore?

You guys are registered; a field update is forthcoming.

Anathemalice wrote: The Field so far:
Paint Branch HS- 1
St. Anselm's- 1
Montgomery Blair- 2
Gonzaga- 2

There already is a field update posted that didn't include us. That's why i mentioned that.

GDS also registered some time ago. Should I resend the e-mail?

jlchockey94 wrote:GDS also registered some time ago. Should I resend the e-mail?

RM is in the same boat.

I apologize, your guys' emails never showed up in my inbox, so they probably disappeared into the ether.
Can RM, GDS, and Quince Orchard (?), please resend me your registration emails?

Thanks for everyone's patience.

jlchockey94 wrote:

DumbJaques wrote:
As for the tournament being moved, I suppose that's up to Paul, but is there an actual reason beyond one dude on GDS wanting it to be on May 22?

VCU is also hosting a tournament on May 21. Since VCU is not very far from UMD-CP, I would assume that there would be some people who would like to go to both. GDS would definitely register for both. I am sorry that it sounded so self-centered. VCU can't because of some Blue Law restriction.

I personally would sort of like to second this request. I know that I, solo if I had to, would go to both tournaments if they were held on back to back days, but it's understandable if that can't work.

So, I haven't been able to talk to my coach yet, but I'm not holding my breath. I don't think B-CC will be able to bring a team, but I really want to participate in the tournament. I have no objections to coming and playing solo, if the organizers are okay with that, but I'm not particularly confident in my chances playing solo. If anybody has a spot on their team or knows of someone who would want to join forces for the day (again, if the organizers don't mind), I'd be eternally grateful.

Alternatively, I'm happy to serve as a moderator.

Many, many thanks.

Because other people have had problems with emails getting through, I wanted to make sure that you got TJ's registration email. We haven't gotten a response to it yet.

To prevent stuff like this from happening, from now on when people send registration emails, feel free to CC me at IB[NOSPAM][email protected] or Chris at Volkov[SPAMLESS][email protected].

waddle1 wrote:

jlchockey94 wrote:

DumbJaques wrote:
As for the tournament being moved, I suppose that's up to Paul, but is there an actual reason beyond one dude on GDS wanting it to be on May 22?

VCU is also hosting a tournament on May 21. Since VCU is not very far from UMD-CP, I would assume that there would be some people who would like to go to both. GDS would definitely register for both. I am sorry that it sounded so self-centered. VCU can't because of some Blue Law restriction.

I personally would sort of like to second this request. I know that I, solo if I had to, would go to both tournaments if they were held on back to back days, but it's understandable if that can't work.

Any news on the possible switch? I understand that with 17 teams attending it would be difficult.

Any news on the possible switch? I understand that with 17 teams attending it would be difficult.

It's not technically up to me, but I think it's safe to say that we're not going to be rescheduling the tournament with four days to go. I'm sorry if this hurts anyone's ability to attend, but it seemed like there were at least as many conflicts with moving the date.

Are there any more changes to the field? 18 teams is a pretty great number for a tournament in terms of bracketing, so i was just curious.

Also, do you have information on meeting times and location?

Quince Orchard would like to participate. Day after our prom...but the last chance to practice before Nationals!

Are there any contingencies in place in case of Rapture? Are the buildings Hell-on-Earth-proof?

theflyingdeutschman wrote:Are there any contingencies in place in case of Rapture? Are the buildings Hell-on-Earth-proof?

Can we please stop with these silly Rapture jokes?

Carangoides ciliarius wrote:Are there any more changes to the field? 18 teams is a pretty great number for a tournament in terms of bracketing, so i was just curious.

Also, do you have information on meeting times and location?

I need to tell my kids about the information today. This tournament is two days away. Please respond.

For seeding purposes, it looks like TJ A will be composed of one member of our normal A team and two members from our B team. Our B team is composed of three people who'd usually play on a C team if we had enough kids.

In lieu of Paul (who is busy slaving away on this tournament after having completed a 30 page paper, all of which was allegedly written yesterday), I'll post some details for this event:

This tournament will run in Jimenez Hall, with the morning meeting held in Jimenez 0105 (for those of you who've joined us before in Jimenez, it'll be the same room you met in last year). Registration will start at 8:15 AM, and rounds will begin as close to 9:00 AM as possible. If you are running late (or have any logistical questions), do not hesitate to give me a call at <>.

Also, if teams will have unexpected rosters, I certainly appreciate hearing from you (thanks TJ) so we lower the risk that I tragically botch the seeding.

Lastly, I think we're currently at 19 teams. . . if that number holds, we'll either be using a bye spot for one bracket or forming a scab team. I'd infinitely prefer the latter, so if you have some extra players to bring along, they can absolutely join onto that scab team for the low low price of zero dollars. If you are able to bring any such players, please let us know.

Attending teams:

At the moment we seem to be down one or two laptops given the extra registrations received this week and some last minute drops in our staff. Obviously we can print some rounds if we have to, but if any teams/coaches/generous hobos can bring a laptop and can let me know via post/email, we'd quite appreciate it (and there will of course be a laptop discount). I've also not heard of any teams bringing staffers (which is fine), but if you're planning on bringing someone to staff, you should probably drop me a line. Apologies in advance if you've told someone else already, which I presume might be the case with teams like CR.

I still need a name to have my check made out to. At this point though it seems I'll have to pay out of pocket and be reimbursed, still, let me know ASAP please.

DumbJaques wrote: At the moment we seem to be down one or two laptops given the extra registrations received this week and some last minute drops in our staff. Obviously we can print some rounds if we have to, but if any teams/coaches/generous hobos can bring a laptop and can let me know via post/email, we'd quite appreciate it (and there will of course be a laptop discount).

I can bring a laptop.

DumbJaques wrote: I've also not heard of any teams bringing staffers (which is fine), but if you're planning on bringing someone to staff, you should probably drop me a line. Apologies in advance if you've told someone else already, which I presume might be the case with teams like CR.

In case you didn't get my message, yep, i'd definitely love to help out if you need me.

Checks should be made out to "Maryland Academic Quiz Team."

just wondering, what/who is Nondescript High School?

sir negsalot wrote:just wondering, what/who is Nondescript High School?

Presumably a school who is not allowed to play under its own name.

There are some players on Nondescript High School who I played together with in high school.

Here's hoping we stay at 18 teams (as i see in the list). Makes for a much better number.

See everyone tomorrow.

Here's hoping we stay at 18 teams (as i see in the list). Makes for a much better number.

Er, I think we actually have 19 teams registered, so we're still looking to fill out that last spot with an additional squad/scab team.

To follow up on my previous offer to staff:

I'm available, and can bring a laptop.
Shuochen Huang (whom I played with in high school) is also willing to help out.

I assume the tournament can still use extra staffers, but let us know if that's not the case.
Thanks, otherwise see you all tomorrow.

Ah, you're right, now that it's updated.

Sorry, i don't have any additional kids.

Are there any super small teams that might combine instead?

RM A cleared the field to win this event. I think we and TJ A tied for second.