Possibly Creating A NASAT Team for New Jersey

[Edward Powers]

A few NJ Coaches have been talking at the last two NJ tournaments---at Chatham and at Colonia's CAAC---about possibly honoring New Jersey's best players in two ways. First, by honoring TWO teams of 6 players with All State Status. The idea is this: The 6 players considered the very best would be named as FIRST TEAM ALL STATE players, and the next 6 would be honored as SECOND TEAM ALL STATERS.

These 12 players would then be considered as the best candidates to represent New Jersey at the National All Star Academic Tournament at the University of Maryland in three weeks. Again the current prevailing idea would be to form the NASAT Team from the Top 6 players and offer spots to them first, and if any decline, to offer openings within the 6 man NASAT team to the 2nd team players, in order, based upon their performance throughout the year.

This is not necessarily the best procedure, but given the late date it might be the best available for now if we are to have any chance to field a team from NJ.

Coaches who like the idea of honoring the kids in the ways mentioned include Mike Zinsmeister from Seton Hall Prep, Jon Pinyan from Bergen Academies, Gene Stoye from MAST, Steve Fineman from Chatham, Ray Eng from High Tech, myself and we suspect Guy Rabner from Livingston and Peter Urban from Millburn, although we cannot confirm the last two yet. In addition, Dave Madden of NHBB fame has also indicated his enthusiastic support, and he has read so often this year at NJ tournaments that he surely knows many if not all of the most prolific players in the state.

In fact, Jon Pinyan has done a preliminary analyisis of stats for 2010-2011 and he suggests that no one could argue with the following baker's dozen candiates to start our discussion, and I certainly would not, for all are excellent players, as you will note immediately if you have seen them play. Here they are, in no particular order:

Bobby from MAST; Roey from Ranney; Michael from East Brunswick; Grace from High Tech; Zoe from Columbia; Michael from Chatham; Govind from Livingston; Jimmy & Kevin from Seton Hall Prep; Alex and Jason from St. Joe's, and Stephanie and Joe from Bergen Academies.

Surely no one could argue with these players being considered for First or Second team honors. But some players who also deserve to be considered might not yet be listed here. So, if you know of such an outstanding player who is not yet listed, whether from your own team or from another you've seen throughout the year, please submit their names below.

Additionally, if you have any comments, pro or con, please also submit these. Naturally we hope your comments are supportive, and we hope that this communication here can help expedite the process of honoring 12 deserving players who have displayed sufficent distinction in their play that they deserve the kinds of honors and opportunites discussed here. Further, this might also help us get New Jersey into the fun at NASAT and perhaps begin an annual process and happy duty of honoring our best Quizbowlers from across the state. It might even encourage more involvement thoughout the state once kids learn of such honors. If so, this is certainly a win-win situtation.

So please, add any nominees that you think are genuinely worthy and, of course submit whatever comments you consider relevant. Hopefully, given time constraints to field a team for NASAT, this discussion can expedite our chances to field a representative team we all can be proud of. If not, at least we can honor a dozen of our best players, surely a worthwhile endeavor.

So, submit your names or your thoughts or both!!!

[Edward Powers]

Later today or tonight I will be posting an idea about a method and a deadline for voting so we can actually select these All State Teams.

In the meantime, does anyone else have any new nominees or any constructive suggestions? Any criticisms? If so, please join the conversation here.

[b.o.b.]

Just curious what were the results of yesterday's CAAC?

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[Edward Powers]

OK---Here is the voting method Jon & I have come up with to differentiate between those who are honored as First Team All State players from those who either make Second Team or from those who might fall just a little short.

It is a 3 tiered voting system using a 5-3-1 point voting system. Here is how we have designed it to be used:

For the first team, give the player you consider the best in the state an MVP VOTE worth 5 points, then give the five other players you think should be on this FIRST team 3 points.

Then, identify and select 6 players for the Second Team and give each 1 point.

In addition, if you think an outstanding player has not been placed on the above list of nominees, place his or her name on your ballot and if you feel strongly enough about this player go online here and encourage others to vote for the player.

Use the above point system to create your own ballots and send them to: [email protected] no later than 8 PM this Thursday evening, May 26th. Jon Pinyan will tally the votes and announce honorees ASAP, probably at the HSNCT in Atlanta on Friday and then publish them here on this site as well.

Further, Jon will offer a breakdown of all votes for each player, but he will protect the anonymity of voters.

Obviously, we hope as many coaches and other adult officials who have been involved with NJ Quizbowl throughout the year will see fit to participate in this effort to honor our young scholars, for we wish this selection process to be as broad and as democratic as it possibly can be. Finally, don't forget to vote for any student not nominated above, and please feel free to alert all other voters of the identity of such a worthy candidate so all have a chance to vote for that person. In fact, if any NJ students who have played throughout the year see any player missing from the list of nominees above. please feel free to identify that player by name on this very site below so all prospective voters can have a chance to vote for this currently missing player

Thanks, and happy voting to all who intend to vote!!!

[jonpin]

The difficulty levels in brackets are based on a statistical analysis by Fred Morlan, who runs a Top-100 National Ranking site (http://hsqbrank.wordpress.com). Easy corresponds to NAQT A-sets and others that were easier than the typical set. Regular corresponds to NAQT IS-sets and HSAPQ sets. Hard includes Harvard and Princeton's tournament. Where two links are provided, the first is preliminary play and the second is playoffs.

Fall Semester
September 25 - Pirate Open @ Seton Hall [Easy] - http://results.scobo.net/SQBS.aspx?org= ... =standings
October 2 - PHSAT @ Princeton [Hard] - http://results.scobo.net/SQBS.aspx?org= ... =standings and http://results.scobo.net/SQBS.aspx?org= ... =standings
October 16 - LIFT @ Kellenberg [Regular] - http://results.scobo.net/SQBS.aspx?org= ... =standings
October 23 - FACT @ Yale [Easy] - http://results.scobo.net/SQBS.aspx?org= ... =standings and http://results.scobo.net/SQBS.aspx?org= ... =standings
October 30 - Samhain @ Bergen [Regular] - http://results.scobo.net/SQBS.aspx?org= ... =standings
November 13 - Fall Tournament @ Harvard - http://results.scobo.net/SQBS.aspx?org= ... =standings and http://results.scobo.net/SQBS.aspx?org= ... =standings
November 20 - QUAC @ U-Penn [Regular] - http://results.scobo.net/SQBS.aspx?org= ... =standings
December 18 - Delaware Open @ Charter Wilmington [Regular] - http://results.scobo.net/SQBS.aspx?org= ... =standings

Spring Semester
January 8 - Invitational @ HHH West [Easy] - http://www.mmaroney.net/hsw/brainstorme ... dings.html
January 29 - Falcon @ St. Joseph [Hard] - http://results.scobo.net/SQBS.aspx?org= ... =standings and http://results.scobo.net/SQBS.aspx?org= ... =standings
February 19 - Garden State @ St. Joseph [Regular] - http://results.scobo.net/SQBS.aspx?org= ... =standings
March 5 - Prison Bowl @ Hunter [Regular] - http://results.scobo.net/SQBS.aspx?org= ... =standings
March 5 - BATE @ Bloomfield [Regular] - http://naqt.com/stats/tournament-teams. ... nt_id=3510
March 19 - History Bowl @ Ridgewood (individual stats not kept for Bowl; http://www.historybee.com/state-bee-results/?site=929 has Bee results)
March 26 - Blue Hen @ Delaware [Regular] - http://results.scobo.net/SQBS.aspx?org= ... =standings
April 2 - States @ Princeton [Regular] - http://results.scobo.net/SQBS.aspx?org= ... =standings and http://results.scobo.net/SQBS.aspx?org= ... =standings
April 30 - BOAT @ Bergen [Easy] - http://results.scobo.net/SQBS.aspx?org= ... =standings
May 14 - CAT @ Chatham [Regular] - http://results.scobo.net/SQBS.aspx?org= ... =standings (no individual stats)
May 21 - CAAC @ Colonia [Regular] (no results available; High Tech defeated St. Joseph to win tournament)

[Edward Powers]

Yes, High Tech defeated Saint Joe's at CAAC on the last question in a very exciting match, 380-360.

Thanks to Jon for providing statistical links to virtually every major tournament of the year played by New Jersey players to aid prospective voters in their evaluations in case they missed some tournaments. All teams missed some tournaments, certainly the one's their own schools hosted unless a house team was needed, so you will notice that some players are not listed in the individual performance stats. A simple check of the standings will probably be all you need to check to see if that player's school was in attendance.

Thanks again Jon for this great aid.

[jonpin]

One that I missed which featured a lot of great teams and great players:

http://naqt.com/stats/tournament-teams. ... nt_id=3694 is the link for Livingston's March Madness

[Great Bustard]

Question: How will ties in the voting be settled? Thanks to Jon and Ed for getting the ball rolling here. Should I be based in the greater NJ region next year, I offer my support to any efforts at getting a league and/or a more established state organization off the ground. It could be quite informal at first, but I think it's an idea whose time has come. In any case, the NHBB is going to be doing a very intensive NJ recruiting effort for next year, and hopefully that can help kick start some teams' programs. I will also likely be helping to at least assistant coach Ridgewood in the fall, again presuming I'm based in the area. Time to revive the glory of the late 90s after their strong showing at NHBB Nationals (and their strongest player was a sophomore)...

[jonpin]

Question: How will ties in the voting be settled? Thanks to Jon and Ed for getting the ball rolling here. Should I be based in the greater NJ region next year, I offer my support to any efforts at getting a league and/or a more established state organization off the ground. It could be quite informal at first, but I think it's an idea whose time has come. In any case, the NHBB is going to be doing a very intensive NJ recruiting effort for next year, and hopefully that can help kick start some teams' programs. I will also likely be helping to at least assistant coach Ridgewood in the fall, again presuming I'm based in the area. Time to revive the glory of the late 90s after their strong showing at NHBB Nationals (and their strongest player was a sophomore)...

In the event of a tie for the last spot in the first team or the second team, all tied players will be considered members of the appropriate team (and an additional all-star medal will be ordered).
As contingency for the event of a tie for the MVP title, tomorrow I will be emailing all voters to ask for their #2 and #3 choice for MVP, to be used solely to break a tie for MVP. It is my hope that such a tiebreaker will prove sufficient; in the event that a deadlock remains, I suppose we will name co-MVPs.

[Edward Powers]

Things are coming along nicely. Rooms and a large SUV have been reserved. NJ is ready to go to NASAT if at least 4 of its All State Honorees choose to go. Names of honorees will be revealed some time tomorrow evening, May 27th, first at the HSNCT, then, hopefully, here online. Good luck to all the nominees!

[SHP Pirate]

Stuck in Newark Airport! (Damn Continental!). Ed ... would you please forward my ballott to Jon or, Jon, would you give me a call? I will be here for the next several hours.

[jonpin]

Here are the results of the voting for New Jersey's all-stars. There were 8 votes, cast by the coaches of Bergen Academies (Jon Pinyan), Chatham (Steve Fineman), High Tech (Ray Eng), Livingston (Guy Rabner), MAST (Gene Stoye), St. Joseph (Ed Powers), and Seton Hall Prep (Michael Zinsmeister) as well as David Madden. Bold were unanimous first-team all-stars; italic were unanimous all-stars.

First Team
Alex Frey (SJ)
Bobby Gaffey (MAST)
Roey Hadar (Ranney)
Grace Liu (High Tech)
Jimmy McGlone (SHP)
Chir Wei Stephanie Yuen (BCA)

Second Team
Michael Abrams (E Brun)
Jason Hill (SJ)
Zoe Madonna (Columbia)
Govind Ramagopal (Liv)
Kevin Shamieh (SHP)
Joseph Wiegartner (BCA)

Player of the Year
Alex Frey of St. Joseph won with 3 of the 8 votes. Bobby Gaffey and Jimmy McGlone each received 2 votes; Grace Liu received 1 vote.

Congratulations to all of the above players on a great season, and good luck at whichever national championships you may be competing in!

[Guybo]

Wow... It looks like the NJ/NY area treams did really well on Saturday at HSNCT. St Joe's and Kellenberg both went 7-3 and Seton Hall, BCA A, Great Neck South and we, Livingston A, went 6-4... even Ranney, BCA B and Liv B did well going 5-5 as a lot of really good teams didn't even make the playoffs also going 5-5. Though we didn't have an enormous presence here, percentage wise we probably did among the best of all the regions. Shows how strong we are. Congrats to all the local teams in doing so well Saturday and good luck in playoffs today... Way to REPRESENT!

Oh, and congrats to all the local All-Stars on doing well individually... seems like all they all made the top 100 individuals with Alex leading the way in the top 10. Great showing.

[Edward Powers]

A call to the players named to the First Team All State for New Jersey: Has anyone decided (besides those identified below) to attend NASAT?

Alex from my squad has committed to go; it appears that Grace from High Tech also will commit, while Bobby from MAST is currently considering it. That leaves Jimmy from SHP, Roey from Ranney and Stephanie from BCA. Any decisions in the near future? If I can get at least a 4th commitment, I can officially register the team for New Jersey.

If I can only get 2-3 to go from the First Team, I invite the 6 players from the Second Team to consider becoming the 3rd & 4th members, which is all I need. Write on this board or talk to your coach who can then let me know, so that essential financial issues can also be discussed.

Edit: Assuming for the moment that there are not enough 1st teamers interested but more 2nd team players interested in coming than there might be room for, I will use a "first come, first served" method of selection, again, not ideal, but given the extremely short time frame within which we are currently working, this is the most practical method available to address the logistical issues that still remain with less than 2 weeks to go.