This program brought to you in part by the Erika Lewis Endowment Fund.

-Coming up, it's Miller Middle School... [cheers and applause] ...taking on Cram Middle School!

[cheers and applause] This is the Junior Varsity Quiz Blue League Championship!

♪♪ Hello and welcome.

This 57th season of Varsity Quiz continues now with Junior Varsity Quiz.

It's an honor to be your host.

I'm Nathan Tannenbaum.

So 27 middle school and junior high school teams competed in a one-day tournament on the campus of Veterans Tribute CTA.

So Miller Middle School defeated the Thurman White Academy to get to this championship.

Cram defeated Rogich to get where we are today.

So we're going to start by introducing today's players.

We'll start with Miller Middle School.

We'll say hello to Sophia.

Hi, Sophia.

There's Kesavi.

Hello.

Hey, Sim.

-Hi.

-And Ayush.

-Hi.

-And the coaches for Miller Middle School, Celia Erickson and Erick Ekker.

[applause] Now let's meet the players for Cram.

There's Kailani.

-Hello.

-Isabella, Brennan.

-Hi.

-And Lailani.

-Hello.

-And the coach for Cram, Cole White.

[applause] Ready?

Let's play Junior Varsity Quiz.

The doctor's message was clear, but still those five little monkeys were doing what when-- We'll go with Cram, Brennan: jumping on the bed -That's right.

Cram's on the board.

That's our first question, and we keep going.

In October of 2025, the U.S.

Military conducted lethal strikes on boats in both the Pacific and the Caribbean as part of what was described as a way to stop drug smuggling in a war against transnational [what] groups?

Cram, Brennan: cartels -Correct.

We move on to a calculation question, students.

A driver travels 180 miles at a constant speed and arrives in 3 hours.

If delayed by 30 minutes, what must her speed be to make it on time?

We'll go with Miller, Sim: 70 miles an hour -That is incorrect.

[bell chimes, time expires] We were looking for 72 miles an hour.

You were close.

Let's keep moving on.

President John F. Kennedy's sister Eunice Shriver was very close to their sister Rosemary, who became disabled after brain surgery.

So Eunice went on to form which organization that held their first event at Soldier Field in Chicago in 1968?

[bell chimes, time expires] Look it up.

The Special Olympics.

No points.

We move on.

What's the name of the highest mountain peak in South America?

We'll go with Miller, Sim: Machu Picchu -Incorrect.

Cram, Brennan: the Cotopaxi -Incorrect.

We're looking for Aconcagua.

Next question.

What do we call the technique in dramatics where one expresses emotions by movement and gestures-- Miller, Sophia: acting -Incorrect, and that's an interruption.

Let me finish the question.

--one expresses emotions by movement and gestures only without any words.

Cram, Kailani: mimicing -I don't think we can take that.

No.

We were looking for mime.

No points.

We move on.

Which of these is not characteristic of Gothic architecture used in cathedrals and universities: flying buttresses, A-frames, pointed arches, large stained glass windows, and tall ceilings?

Miller, Sophia: A-frames -That is correct.

You guys are getting back on the board.

Let's keep moving.

The Aral Sea, once the third largest lake in the world, shrank down to desert after Soviet diversion of rivers for irrigation, creating a major ecological disaster.

So the disaster has also caused economic hardship in the area, especially for the fishermen of Kazakhstan to its north and which nation to its south?

Miller, Sim: Turkey -Incorrect.

Cram, Brennan: Uzbekistan and Tajikistan -I think we can take Uzbekistan.

That's what we were looking for.

Let's keep moving.

Another calculation question, students.

1.5 miles is how many feet?

And that's Miller, Sim: 7,920 feet -Yes.

Let's keep going.

What's the grammatical voice used when the subject performs the action?

Miller, Ayush: verb -Incorrect.

Cram, Brennan: predicate -No.

We were looking for active voice.

No points.

We move on.

In J.K.

Rowling's Harry Potter series, what magical object allows a person to view memories?

[bell chimes, time expires] -You guys are not Harry Potter people?

It's the pensieve.

Next question.

Which conflict, beginning in 1939, involved around 70 countries by the time it was done and resulted in unprecedented civilian and military casualties?

Cram, Brennan: World War II -Yes.

What's the two-word term for the body's ability to respond to demands on the body without excessive fatigue?

Miller, Kesavi: fight or flight -Incorrect.

[bell chimes, time expires] Yeah, I think you guys are making it too complicated.

We're just looking for physical fitness.

Next question.

In tennis, what term describes a serve that lands in the correct service box and is untouched by the opponent?

Miller, Kesavi: ace -Yes.

Which part of the fish controls its balance and direction?

Miller, Ayush: tail -No.

Cram, Brennan: fin -Yep.

Here's a calculation question for both teams: Eight school friends each pitch in an equal amount to run an after school spinach ice cream stand.

What could go wrong?

After paying their parents back for the supplies, they had made $128 less than they had spent.

So each friend owed the parents how much more money?

We'll go with Miller, Ayush: $16 -Yes.

Animals with backbones are called what?

Cram, Brennan: vertebrates -Yes.

Which gland sits on top of the kidneys and produces-- Miller, Ayush: adrenal -Yes.

What's the name of the sticky part of a flower where pollen lands?

And that's Miller, Sophia: nectar -Incorrect.

Cram, Brennan: stamin -No.

We were looking for stigma.

No points.

We move on.

Another calculation question.

Find the quotient when the dividend is 234 and the divisor is -13.

We'll go with Miller, Sim: -11, remainder 1 -Incorrect.

[bell chimes, time expires] We were looking for -18.

We move on.

Which continent is home to the Amazon Rainforest-- That's Miller, Ayush: South America -Yes.

What sports trophy was previously presented at the Downtown Athletic Club in New York from 1935 until after 9/11 before moving first to the PlayStation Theater in 2005 and then to the Jazz at Lincoln Center in 2021?

Cram, Kailani: Stanley Cup -Incorrect.

[bell chimes, time expires] It's the college football Heisman Trophy.

Next question.

What's the capital of South Korea?

Miller, Kesavi: Seoul -Yes.

The Indigenous Peoples of the Americas used polyculture to grow three crops together that helped each other grow.

The-- Miller, Sim: The Sisters, The Three Sisters -No.

That's incorrect, and that's an interrupt.

Let me finish reading the question.

--The squash leaves shaded the ground and kept it moist.

The climbing beans put nitrogen into the soil and climbed up which sturdy third crop-- And that's Cram, Brennan: corn or maize -Yes.

Okay.

Stanley Yelnats is the main character of which novel?

Miller, Kesavi: Holes -That's right.

Okay.

So that is a great first round.

Have a round of applause for our students.

[applause] But don't go anywhere.

Before we move on, we'll take a few minutes to get to know a little bit more about our players.

You guys can breathe for a little bit now.

Okay.

We're going to start with Miller, and we'll meet Sophia.

-Hi.

-This says that you are a world traveler.

How many countries have you visited?

-Probably over 10-- or more than 15.

-Do you have a favorite?

-Japan.

-Which one?

-Japan.

-Oh, okay.

Well, keep on doing that world traveling, and good luck here on Varsity Quiz.

Thanks, Sophia.

Here's an 8th grader, Kesavi.

Hi, Kesavi.

-Hello.

-Some of the folks who are watching may know what the Science Olympiad is, but in case people don't know what that is, what happens at a Science Olympiad?

-So it's basically a science competition where you do science.

-Yeah, but don't they come up with, like, goofy names for the events, like dropping an egg off of a roof or something like that?

-Uh, I mean, there's Boomilever, and then-- -Yeah.

It's just kind of weird stuff, but you have fun, right?

-Yeah.

-Well, good luck with that, and good luck here at Varsity Quiz.

Here's 7th grader Sim.

Hi, Sim.

-Hello.

-This says here that you are taking high school classes in middle school.

-In fact, I am.

-Where are you doing that?

-Coronado High School.

-So do you actually go to the campus?

-Yes.

I actually go to the campus.

-Wow.

Well, that's great.

Keep up the good work, man, and good luck here on Varsity Quiz.

Thank you.

Here's 6th grader Ayush.

Hi, Ayush.

This says that you have switched preferences on a sport that you like to do, that you used to do swimming, and now you're into what?

-Basketball.

-So are you, are you pretty good at the hoops, or you're just getting started?

-Just getting started.

-Okay.

Well, good luck with that.

Good luck here on Varsity Quiz.

Ladies and gentlemen, our players from Miller Middle School!

[cheers and applause] Okay.

So now we're going to meet our players from Cram.

We'll start with 8th grader Kailani.

Hi, Kailani.

-Hello.

-What is the Poly-Asia Club at Cram?

-At Cram, we have a Poly-Asian Club, and it's basically where we introduce the culture of different Polynesian and Asian countries.

-Do you have a pretty good membership?

-This is my second year in Poly-Asian Club.

-Okay.

I mean, you guys having fun?

-Yes.

-All right.

Good luck with that and Varsity Quiz.

Here's 8th grader Isabella.

Hi, Isabella.

-Hey.

-This says you play a musical instrument, or one or two.

What do you play?

-I play the violin and the piano.

-Do you have to pick a favorite if you had to?

-Violin because it's what got me into Las Vegas Academy of the Arts.

-Oh, okay.

Well, good luck with that, and good luck here on Varsity Quiz.

Here's 8th grader Brennan.

Hey, Brennan.

This says you have a strange skill that you are sort of a professional at.

Do you remember what you wrote?

-Knife juggling?

-Yeah.

What's up with that, man?

-I'm just, I'm just really good at it.

-Okay.

Isn't that dangerous?

-No.

I use dull blades most the time, but sometimes I practice with sharp blades.

I haven't got cut yet.

-Well, remind me not to hang around you when you're doing that.

Good luck with that, and good luck here at Varsity Quiz.

Here's 8th grader Lailani.

-Hello.

-It sounds like you might know someone on your team.

-I wonder.

-Okay.

It says here that you are the president of one of the clubs at Cram.

-Yes.

-What's that?

-Guitar Club.

-So what happens at the Guitar Club?

What do you guys do?

-It's basically where we get extra hours of practice so we can, like, practice for auditions or performances.

-Well, good luck with that, and good luck here on Varsity Quiz.

Ladies and gentlemen, Cram Middle School.

Hey, our bonus round is coming up next.

[applause] The score after the first round, we got a close match here.

Miller has 30 points to Cram's 35.

We do have one new player for Miller.

We want to say hello to William.

Hey, William.

Welcome aboard.

Cram is keeping all of their same students.

Now, you guys, this round is timed at six minutes, and that time begins as I read this question: Columbus is home to the main campus of its state's university.

Name the state.

Cram, Brennan: Ohio -Yes.

Bonus questions about state universities now for Cram only.

First, what state's main university is located in the city of Laramie?

And, second, what state's main university is located in the city of Athens?

[students deliberate] Captain?

-Michigan and Mississippi.

-Both are incorrect.

Laramie is in Wyoming.

Athens is in Georgia.

So you get points for the original question but no bonus points.

And now we have this tossup for both teams: Fill in the blank for the following expression with a part of the body.

When you give your all, you give your [blank], sweat, and tears.

Cram, Brennan: blood -Correct.

Now bonus questions about body part expressions for Cram only.

Fill in the blanks with a body part.

First, getting students to do their work can be like pulling [what]?

And, second, the answer to this question is on the tip of my [what]?

[students deliberate] -We have our answers.

-Oh, go right ahead.

-Leg and tongue.

-Tongue is correct.

We were looking for pulling teeth.

So we'll give you some bonus points but not all, and you keep the points from the original question.

All right.

Tossup now for both teams.

And we do have a calculation question, students.

Solve for the variable: What is m in 2m - (m + 1) = 0?

We'll go with Cram, Brennan: m = 1 -That is correct.

We have bonus calculation questions now for Cram only.

First, a rectangle's length is twice its width.

If the perimeter is 36 centimeters, what is the width?

Second, what's two-thirds of 18?

[students deliberate] -We have our answers.

-Go.

-6 and 12.

-I believe we need units.

On the first one, we need units.

-6 inches.

-Well, that's incorrect.

But the second one is correct.

We were looking for centimeters.

That was the part of the original question.

So again, you get some bonus points but not all, and we have a tossup for both teams.

Moons are also known as satellites.

Which planet has a satellite called Titan?

Miller, William: Jupiter -That's incorrect.

Cram, Kailani: Venus -That's incorrect.

It is Saturn.

So we move to another tossup for both teams.

Identify a six-letter word that ends in the letters -i-c-e that means an alternative.

[bell chimes, time expires] The word is choice.

All right.

We move to another tossup for both teams.

What is North America's largest rodent, can weigh up to 65 pounds?

Miller, Ayush: capybara -Incorrect.

Cram, Isabella: beaver -Yes.

Now we have bonus questions, that's biology questions that start with the letter B for Cram only.

First, what ground dwelling African monkeys are famous for their troop society?

And, second, which part of the body is affected by the poisonous systemic disease septicemia?

[students deliberate] Captain?

-Our first answer is bonobo.

We don't have a second answer.

-Okay.

So the first one is baboon, so no points there.

The second answer is blood.

So no bonus points, but you keep the original points.

Okay.

We move on to a tossup for both teams, you only need five ingredients to make your own.

What is the traditional bread of Mexico?

Miller, Kesavi: tortillas -That is correct.

We have bonus questions about world cuisine now for Miller only.

First, what vegetable is traditionally served with corned beef on St.

Patrick's Day?

And second, in what country would you be-- would you expect to eat curried dishes on a regular basis?

[students deliberate] -Captain?

-Okay.

For the first question, we have potatoes.

And for the second question, we have India.

-India is correct.

The vegetable with corned beef is cabbage.

So you get some bonus points but not all.

We move to this tossup for both teams: The Pleistocene epoch of extensive glaciation is also called what?

Cram, Isabella: Ice Age -Yes.

Bonus questions about weather now for Cram only.

First, a magnetic storm is a global disturbance of Earth's magnetic field caused by disturbances where?

And, second, what's indicated on a weather map by a circle containing the letter F, as in Frank?

[students deliberate] Captain?

-We have our answers.

Tectonic plate and wind front.

-Both are incorrect.

The magnetic field disturbances are coming from the sun, and the F on a weather map means fog.

So you get the original points in the question, and that is the end of Round 2.

Speed Round next.

The score going into Round 3: Miller has 40 points.

Cram has 70.

Anything can happen in the Speed Round.

We do have one new player for Miller.

We want to say hello to Anandita.

Hello, Anandita.

Welcome aboard.

Cram is keeping their same players.

Let's go.

Which animals can control their body temperature internally?

Miller, Sim: warm-blooded animals -Incorrect.

Cram, Kailani: reptiles -No.

We were looking for endotherms.

We keep going.

What type of physical feature covers almost all of Arabia?

Miller, Ayush: desert -Yes.

Which U.S.

President resigned in 1974-- That's Miller, Sim: Richard Nixon -Yes.

What type of energy is produced by the sun?

Miller, Sim: solar power -I think we can take that.

Okay.

Next question.

What's the opposite of evaporation?

Miller, Kesavi: condensation -Yes.

Okay.

Here's a calculation question.

We don't repeat them here in the third round, so listen closely.

How many times greater is 91 than 13?

Miller, Sim: 7 -Yes.

Copyrights, patents, and trademarks are all part of IP law.

What do those letters stand for?

Miller, Anandita: international processing -Incorrect.

Cram, Brennan: international protection -No.

We're looking for intellectual property.

No points.

We move on.

What term describes the seasonal movement of animals between habitats?

Miller, Anandita: migration -Yes.

Which ancient city-state civilization is credited with creating the first known democracy?

Cram, Isabella: Greece -Can we take that?

Okay.

We'll take that as a no.

Miller, Kesavi: Athens -Yes.

That's what we were looking for.

Next question.

What's the term for the ability of the body to resist or fight off infections and diseases?

Cram, Isabella: immune system -Yes.

What kind of angle measures 90 degrees?

Cram, Brennan: right -Yes.

What type of shopping center became popular in suburban areas after World War II?

Miller, Kesavi: malls -Yes.

Lazaro Cardenas, the president of Mexico in the late 1930s, distributed millions of acres of land to the peasants and nationalized which energy industry?

Cram, Brennan: solar -No.

Miller, Ayush: hydro -No.

Back in the 1930s, the big deal was oil.

Next question.

Correct the error in this question asked of a teacher by a scientist: What year did Columbus come to the new world on the Mayflower?

Miller, Anandita: What year did Columbus come on the Mayflower to the new world?

-That's incorrect.

He didn't come on the Mayflower.

He came on the Santa Maria.

Next question.

In ancient Egypt, tomb paintings often depicted what river central to both-- That's Cram, Brennan: the Nile -Yes.

Ecdysone is the hormone that controls what process in insects by which the final insect doesn't resemble the first stage?

Cram, Brennan: metamorphosis -That's right.

This river flows north through Northeastern Africa and empties into the Mediterranean Sea.

Miller, Kesavi: the Nile -Yes.

What's the term for the type of fat that's considered good and helps protect the heart in proper doses?

Miller, Sim: unsaturated fats -Yes.

Which horror novel of a man-made monster by Mary Shelley-- That's Miller, Ayush: Frankenstein -That's right.

Which mountain range forms a natural border between France and Spain?

Miller, Kesavi: the Andes -Incorrect.

Cram, Brennan: Zagros -Pardon me?

-Zagros.

-No.

It's the Pyrenees.

Next question.

What skilled trade, sometimes found in historical novels, pertains to the treatment of animal skins to turn them into leather?

Cram, Brennan: taxidermy -Incorrect.

Miller, Ayush: pelting -No.

It's called tanning.

No points.

We move on.

This nut used to have its shell dyed red to hide stains caused by manual dehulling.

Before the buzzer?

Okay.

Miller, Kesavi: walnut -No.

We were looking for pistachio.

Next question.

In which female gymnastics competition are the bars positioned about 6 feet apart and 8 and 5 1/2 feet above the ground?

Miller, Sim: uneven bars -Yes.

Calculation question.

Once again, we don't repeat in the third round.

Evaluate 5 plus 3 times 2 squared.

That's Miller, Sim: 17 -Correct.

What's the name for a fraction where the numerator is larger than the denominator?

Miller, Anandita: improper fraction -That's right.

Which literary device is found in the U.S.

Constitution's phrase "a more perfect Union"?

Miller, Kesavi: superlative -No.

It was an oxymoron.

I believe I've heard the bell.

We are done?

Oh, my goodness.

This was an exciting round.

Let's find out who won.

Final score--a huge comeback-- Miller ends up with 110 points to Cram's 90.

Can we have a round of applause for both teams?

What an incredible match.

[cheers and applause] However, we need to say congratulations to the 2025-2026 Junior Varsity Quiz Blue League Champions, Miller Middle School!

[cheers and applause] However, we're going to start by presenting the second place plaque to the captain and the entire team from Cram Middle School!

Hold that up, and wear it proudly.

You guys did great.

[cheers and applause] Now our Junior Varsity Quiz Blue League Championship plaque to the captain of Miller Middle School.

Show it off proudly.

Congratulations, you guys!

[cheers and applause] We want you to join us next week because we got a lot to do.

We need to celebrate the success of the JVQ Virtual League finalists.

It'll be Garside taking on Greenspun for the title of JVQ Virtual League champions.

We'll see you next week, right here on Vegas PBS.