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

(Nathan Tannenbaum) Coming up, it's Team Parise... [cheers and applause] ...and they are taking on Team Naylor!

[cheers and applause] This is the Junior Varsity Quiz All-Star Match!

[crashing sound] ♪♪ [cheers and applause] Hello and welcome to the 56th season of Varsity Quiz, wrapping up with our Junior Varsity Quiz All-Star Match.

Now, it's going to be a little bit different than our other matches, because here's the deal: We're just here to have fun.

Tonight we have four different timed rounds of all toss-up questions.

Each question in this light-hearted match is worth 5 points.

Let's meet our starters for Team Parise, and the players will introduce themselves, starting with Chelsea.

Hi, Chelsea.

-Hi, I'm Chelsea.

I am an 8th grader from Hyde Park Middle School.

-Hi, I'm Ben.

I am an 8th grader from Cadwallader Middle School.

-Hi, I'm Cameron in 8th grade from Garrett Junior High School.

-Hi, I'm Lane from Fremont Middle School.

-Excellent.

That's Team Parise!

And we'll explain all that.

[cheers and applause] Now let's meet our starters for Team Naylor, starting with Owen.

-Hi, I'm Owen from K.O.

Knudson Middle School.

I'm in 8th grade.

-You don't have to lean in, Owen, we got you.

-Hi, I'm Oliver.

I'm an 8th grader at Bob Miller Middle School.

-Wonderful.

-Hi, I'm Elijah.

I'm an 8th grader at Harney Middle School.

-Hi, I'm Malia.

I'm an 8th grader at Greenspun Middle School.

-Awesome.

All right, that's team Naylor.

Woohoo!

[cheers and applause] Let's play Junior Varsity Quiz All Stars.

A 330,000-acre wildlife preserve in what country was created in 2007, named for Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter?

That's Team Naylor, Oliver: Australia -That's right.

What's the stage name of Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta?

Team Naylor, Oliver: Angelina Jolie -No.

[bell chimes, time expires] Oh, you guys are going to kick yourselves.

Are you sitting down?

That's Lady Gaga.

Whaaaat?

[laughter] It's a good thing you showed up today, okay, so you can go around telling people what's Lady Gaga's real name, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta.

Next question.

Most of Las Vegas' water supply comes from what large lake created when the Hoover Dam was built in 1935?

Team Naylor, Elijah: Lake Mead -That's right.

Next question.

Name the sport that uses a birdie.

Team Parise, Cameron: badminton -That's right.

You play badminton?

-No, but I play sports.

-Yeah, it's a lot of fun.

Here we go.

In the movie Wicked, what is Elphaba's sister's name?

Team Naylor, Oliver: Julie -No.

[bell chimes, time expires] Now if you said Lady Gaga, we'd have a problem.

[laughter] How many of you-- have you seen the movie Wicked?

It's Nessarose.

D'oh!

Next question.

Usually located to the left or right on the number row, what's that squiggly line on the keyboard called?

Team Naylor, Malia: a tilde -That's right.

Points for Naylor.

We move on.

Name the animal that has no vocal cords.

Team Parise, Chelsea: jellyfish -No.

That's a good guess.

Team Naylor, Oliver: butterfly -No.

We're going for the silent giraffe.

Whaaaat?

We are learning so much today, how about you?

Here we go.

Which world religious leader died on April 21 of 2025?

Team Naylor, Elijah: the Pope -Do we need a name?

[consults with judges] It's an all-star match.

We'll give them the points.

Okay, next question.

It's Pope Francis, by the way.

This department store, the biggest in the United States, is known for sponsoring the Thanksgiving Parade.

That's Team Naylor, Oliver: Macy's -That's right.

Okay, so signaling to potential predators that it is unsafe to eat, which spider often has a red hourglass on its abdomen?

Team Parise, Cameron: black widow -That's right.

Wider than Earth, hundreds of years old, the Great Red Spot is a massive storm located on which planet?

Team Parise, Chelsea: Jupiter -That's right.

You guys are doing great.

What Chinese city was formerly known as Peking?

Team Naylor, Oliver: Shanghai -No.

Team Parise, Chelsea: Beijing -It is Beijing, that's right.

Okay, in the "Winnie the Pooh" stories, what's the name of the elephant-like creature?

Team Parise, Ben: Eeyore -No.

Naylor, Malia: the heffalump -That's right.

And Ben goes, Oh, I knew that.

All right, next question.

Name the architectural style known for its pointed arches and flying buttresses.

Naylor, Oliver: Art Deco -No.

[bell chimes, time expires] You'll kick yourselves.

Have you guys heard of Gothic architecture, maybe?

Okay.

Go Google it.

Next question.

In what city was the NCAA 2025 Men's Basketball Final Four held?

That's Naylor, Oliver: San Antonio -That's right.

What unusual pack animals were used in Nevada during the 1800s?

And that's Team Naylor, Oliver: wolves -No.

Good guess, though.

Team Parise, Chelsea: buffalo -No.

We're looking for camels.

We got a lot of camel questions today.

Name either native Nevadan whose statues are displayed in the United States Capitol Building.

Team Naylor, Oliver: Harry Reid -No.

[bell chimes, time expires] We'd have taken either Sarah Winnemucca or Pat McCarran.

That's the end of Round 1.

How about a round of applause for both teams?

[applause] Okay.

So before we move on, let's explain where these team names come from.

We have Team Parise.

That's named for Sheila Parise.

So Sheila is one of the behind the scenes masterminds of Varsity Quiz.

She coordinates the Varsity Quiz leagues that happen during the school year.

She writes a lot of the match questions that you hear here on Varsity Quiz, Junior Varsity Quiz.

Sheila serves as a moderator for both Junior Varsity Quiz and Varsity Quiz, an integral part of Junior Varsity Quiz and Varsity Quiz.

And here's something you might not know.

She actually played Varsity Quiz as a student back in the day.

That's Team Parise.

Let's explain Team Naylor.

Team Naylor named for our buddy, Howard Naylor.

Howard, a member of the Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas, a Varsity Quiz/Junior Varsity Quiz advocate.

He is a huge supporter.

He's volunteered to judge matches for years, continues to support Varsity Quiz and Junior Varsity Quiz teams while attending the championship matches, and he has a scholarship named after his wonderful donations.

All right, Round 2 is next.

Going into Round 2, the score of our Junior Varsity Quiz All-Star game: Team Parise has 20 points.

Team Naylor has 35.

As you know, we want to get as many players in this match as we can, so Team Parise, introduce yourselves, starting with Connor.

-I'm Connor.

I'm in 6th grade, and I'm from Roy Martin Middle School.

-Good.

Good to see you.

-Hello, I'm Zachary.

I come from Grant Sawyer Middle School, and I'm in 7th grade.

-Okay.

-Hi, I'm Grace.

I'm from Lied STEM Academy, and I'm in 8th grade.

-Wonderful.

-Hi, I'm Brooke.

I'm a 7th grader at Johnson Junior High School.

-That's Team Parise for this round.

Let's meet our players for Team Naylor.

-Hi, I'm Jose.

I'm from Brown Junior High School.

-What grade are you in?

-8th grade.

-Excellent.

-Hi, I'm Wyatt.

I'm a 7th grader at Faiss Middle School.

-Excellent.

-Hello.

I'm Thomas, and I'm from Tarkanian Middle School in 7th grade.

-Excellent.

-I'm Ellie, and I'm an 8th grader at Thurman White Middle School.

-Very good.

And here we go!

How many holes are typically in a round of golf?

That's Team Parise, Brooke: 18 -You got it.

Next question.

What's the name of the toy store in Toy Story 2?

That's Team Naylor, Wyatt: Al's Toy Barn -You got it.

You've seen that movie once or twice, right?

A bunch, right?

-Yeah.

-Great movie.

Here we go.

Which continent is the second largest in area?

That's Team Naylor, Ellie: Africa -You got it.

With the success of 2022's Avatar: The Way of Water, who's the only filmmaker to direct three movies that grossed over $2 billion each?

Team Naylor, Wyatt: James Cameron -You got it.

-What's the name of Ariel and Prince Eric's daughter?

Team Parise, Grace: Melody -I think we can take that.

Absolutely, very good.

All right.

Which number is represented by a one followed by twelve zeros?

Team Parise, Connor: one quadrillion -Nope.

Team Naylor, Wyatt: One trillion -There you go.

Which Nevada river begins at Lake Tahoe and empties into Pyramid Lake?

That's Team Naylor, Thomas: the Colorado River -No.

[bell chimes, time expires] It's a Nevada river called the Truckee.

You heard of that one?

I think they mentioned it in the song "Home Means Nevada."

All right, next question.

What's the name of the kingdom in the movie Black Panther?

Team Naylor, Wyatt: Wakanda -Yeah.

Wakanda forever!

[grunts] Crickets chirp not with their mouths, but by rubbing which body parts together?

Team Naylor, Jose: wings -You got it.

Next question.

Complete the following proverb: The early bird gets the [blank].

Team Parise, Brooke: worm -Yeah.

I've never seen birds gathering worms, but they've been saying this forever, so I don't know.

Which city is often referred to as the birthplace of jazz?

Team Naylor, Ellie: New Orleans -You got it.

What country is hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Team Naylor, Ellie: Italy -You got it.

Well, you guys are great.

Hey, according to If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, what will the mouse ask for once he has a cookie?

Team Parise, Brooke: a glass of milk -Hello!

I mean, that's a gimme, isn't it?

If I have a cookie, I want a glass of milk, and I'm not even a mouse.

Next question.

What's the freezing point of water in degrees Celsius?

Team Naylor, Thomas: Zero -Boom!

You know your ice.

Next question.

Orville Redenbacher helped revolutionize which snack product?

Team Naylor, Wyatt: popcorn -That goes with the movies, right?

Yeah.

Are you a popcorn person?

-Yeah.

-We should all be popcorn people, shouldn't we?

Named for an Egyptian city, what Las Vegas hotel has elevators tilted at 39-degree angles to accommodate the distinct shape?

Team Naylor, Ellie: Luxor -Yep.

In fact, they don't even call them elevators.

Here's trivia for the day.

Go home and tell your friends.

They call their elevators "inclinators."

[yawns] Okay.

Which book was a result of a bet that Dr. Seuss could not write a story with only 50 unique words?

Team Naylor, Ellie: Green Eggs and Ham1 -Oh, I guess you heard that one before.

Next question.

Yes.

In which book do we see "a comb and a brush and a bowl full of mush"?

[bell chimes, time expires] You have forgotten your childhood favorite, Good Night, Moon.

Oh, makes you want to go back and look at that book, doesn't it?

Which bird is sometimes called the sea parrot because of its brightly colored facial markings?

Team Parise, Brooke: the toucan -No.

You're on the right track.

[bell chimes, time expires] The fabulous puffin.

Okay, next question.

Oh, we're out of time.

All right.

Hey, before we take our break here, we wanted to introduce you to our coaches because, normally, our coaches are teachers at various schools.

Well, we have some really cool young people who are students at high schools who have come back to support Junior Varsity Quiz.

For Team Parise, the coach is Amber Prum.

She's from the West Career Technical Academy.

And the coach for Team Naylor is Maryiam Sayd, and she's from Coronado High School.

Thank you to our Junior Varsity Quiz All-Star coaches.

Round 3 is next.

The score after two rounds: Team Parise with 40 points; Team Naylor, 95.

Hope you guys are enjoying the Junior Varsity Quiz All-Star Match as much as we are.

Let's find out who our players are for this round, starting with Team Parise.

-Hi.

I'm Chelsea, and I'm still in 8th grade at Hyde Park Middle School.

-Hi, I'm Ben.

I'm in 8th grade at Cadwallader Middle School.

-Hi.

I'm Cameron, and I'm still in 8th grade because I haven't figured out a way to turn back time or go forward yet.

-There you go.

-What's up?

I'm Hajoon, an 8th grader from Canarelli Middle School.

-Thank you.

Let's meet our players for Team Naylor.

-Not a lot has changed.

Still Oliver, still in 8th grade at Bob Miller.

-I like it.

-Owen, still at K.O.

Knudson, still in 8th grade.

-Wonderful.

-Elijah.

Still here, 8th grade, Harney Middle School.

-Boom!

-Hey again, everyone.

I'm Malia.

Still in 8th grade at Greenspun Junior High.

-Okay.

That's all cool.

Okay, so here we go.

Let's get started with Round 3.

This wrestler and actor won his 17th World Title at WrestleMania 41 April, 20, 2025.

Team Naylor, Elijah: John Cena -Yeah, but I was also a big fan of Yeet!

You guys like Mr. Yeet?

He won his match.

Okay, never mind.

What's it called when it's raining ice-balls?

Team Parise, Ben: hail -Hail, yeah!

[laughter] Thank you.

What hotel casino owned by Caesars Entertainment is the oldest casino still on the Strip, opening in 1946, named after that pink bird who stands on one leg?

Team Parise, Cameron: the Flamingo -Yeah, have you been there?

-No, but I've seen it a lot.

-Absolutely.

Well, when you're older, you can check it out.

Next question.

What country is divided into 26 cantons, including Bern, Zug, and Luzern?

Team Naylor, Oliver: Switzerland -That's right.

What Canyon and National Conservation Area in Las Vegas has sandstone peaks, the Keystone Thrust Fault, and Native American petroglyphs?

Team Parise, Cameron: the Grand Canyon -No.

Team Naylor, Oliver: Truckee River Canyon -No.

Oh, kids, I hope you've been to Red Rock Canyon.

We were keeping it close to home for you on that one.

All right.

Parents, take them out to Red Rock Canyon.

Next question.

In 2002, which President's State of the Union address was the first to be streamed live on the internet?

That's Team Naylor, Elijah: George W. Bush -That's right.

What new movie features the protagonists getting pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld?

Team Parise, Ben: Minecraft -Everybody knows that, right?

Y'all Minecrafters?

Hello!

Next question.

Which restaurant chain misses out on an estimated $1.2 billion annually by closing all its locations on Sundays?

Team Naylor, Oliver: Chick-fil-A -Yep.

You have to get used to no Chick-fil-A on Sunday, right?

Next question.

Visitors using the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park must pass through which other national park located about 30 miles away?

Team Naylor, Elijah: Yellowstone -No.

Team Parise, Hajoon: Zion -No.

It's Grand Teton National Park.

So you go to Grand Teton to go through Yellowstone.

Next question.

What children's song begins with the words "There was a farmer who had a dog"?

Team Parise, Cameron: Forgot.

Oh, it's there somewhere, right?

Okay.

Let's see if Team Naylor, Elijah: "Old MacDonald" -No.

It's B-I-N-G-O, B-I-- Okay.

You'll be-- you'll be hearing it in your sleep tonight, Cameron.

Next question.

Because Greenland is one of its autonomous territories, which continental European country has land above the Arctic Circle?

And that's Parise, Chelsea: Denmark -Yes.

Making its NHL debut in 1993, which sports franchise was named for a fictional team from a Disney movie?

Team Naylor, Owen: the Anaheim Ducks -Yes, The Mighty Ducks.

Did you see that movie?

You a hockey fan?

I hope the VGK is your team.

Uh-oh, who's your team?

-Colorado Avalanche.

-Pardon me?

-Colorado Avalanche.

-Oh, okay.

[laughter] Go AVS.

Next question.

Hey, you can check out the glittery Stardust and Hard Rock Casino guitar signs at a Las Vegas Museum named for what chemical element?

Team Naylor, Owen: the Neon Museum -Yes.

Have you all been to the Neon Museum?

Oh, you got to go.

It's fantastic.

Get some Las Vegas history going on.

All right.

Fought for control of the Mediterranean, the Punic Wars were a series of three conflicts between Carthage and which power?

That's Team Parise, Hajoon: Rome -Can we take that?

Yes.

Who used his dog--an Alaskan Malamute named Indiana--as inspiration for a large, furry alien in his 1977 hit movie?

That's Team Naylor, Elijah: George Lucas -Yep.

And of course he was-- I think he made a Wookiee.

Round 4.

Our final round is next.

The score going into Round 4: Team Parise, 65 points; Team Naylor, 130 points.

You might recognize some of these faces, but they're introducing themselves again, just for fun.

We'll start with Team Parise.

-I'm still Lane in 7th grade from Fremont Middle School.

-I am Zachary.

And I still come from Grant Sawyer Middle School, and I'm still in 7th grade.

-Okay.

-Hey, I'm Grace.

I'm still an 8th grader at Lied.

-Wonderful.

-Hi, I'm Brooke.

I'm back, and I'm still a 7th grader at Johnson Junior High School.

-Wonderful.

Team Naylor.

-Hey, I'm still Jose.

And I'm still in 8th grade and still in Brown High School.

-I love it.

-I'm Wyatt.

And to my knowledge, I'm still a 7th grader at Faiss Middle School.

-We'll go with that.

-I'm Thomas, and I'm still a 7th grader at Tarkanian Middle School.

-Wonderful.

-Aloha.

I'm Ellie.

I'm still an 8th grader at Thurman White Middle School.

-Let's get this party started.

Let's find out who's gonna win this Junior Varsity Quiz All-Star Match, starting with Question 52.

Which Nevada town shares its name with the mythological King with the golden touch?

Team Naylor, Thomas: Midas -Yeah, there's a town in Nevada called Midas.

Next question.

Who sang the hit song "Anti-Hero" released in 2022?

Team Parise, Brooke: Taylor Swift -Everybody knows that, right?

Are you all Swifties?

Thomas, you're shaking your head.

Jose, not so much?

All right.

Next question.

Allowing it to reach deep into trees for food, the tongue of which bird is so long it wraps around its own skull?

Team Parise, Zach: the woodpecker -That's right.

Have you seen the cartoon Woody Woodpecker?

Oh, Google it.

You'll have a good time.

Next question.

Celebrated in countries such as India and Thailand, Vesak festivals often include bathing a statue of which religious figure?

Team Parise, Lane: a Buddha -That's right.

Next question.

In 1643, Evangelista Torricelli conducted experiments using a four-foot-long tube of mercury, and he's credited with being the first of which device?

Team Parise, Lane: the thermometer -No.

[bell chimes, time expires] -Oh, Junior Weather Buddies, it's the barometer.

Okay, next question.

Featuring Uncle Fester's electric chair, the bestselling pinball machine of all time was based on what movie?

Team Naylor, Wyatt: The Addams Family -Yeah.

Have you seen the original '60s sitcom, The Addams Family?

Oh, you got to look it up.

I mean, Wednesday is a great show.

Addams Family, the original '60s, check it out.

Named for a Tibetan city, which breed of dog first arrived in the United States when one was given as a gift by the 13th Dalai Lama?

[bell chimes, time expires] Some history trivia for you.

That was the first time we had a Lhasa Apso.

Next question.

Including their four wisdom teeth, adults typically have 12 of which type of tooth, the most of any other kind?

Team Naylor, Ellie: incisors -No.

[bell chimes, time expires] No junior future dentists?

These are your molars.

Okay, next question.

What type of animal is the main character in the movie Finding Nemo?

Team Parise, Lane: a clownfish -That's right.

Hopefully you guys have seen that movie.

Okay.

Name the Henderson-based minor league professional hockey team.

Team Naylor, Ellie: the Silver Knights -Yeah, have you been to any games?

-Yeah.

-They're fun.

-Yeah.

-They're not the VGK, but they're good.

That's a smaller arena.

It's a lot of fun out there.

Affecting nearly 30% of the US population, myopia is the medical term for what eye condition?

[bell chime, time expires] Nearsightedness.

Next question.

One variation of a Japanese proverb states, "He who climbs" which mountain" is a wise man; he who climbs twice is a fool"?

Team Parise, Zach: Mount Fuji -That's right.

We can barely hear you, Zach.

You got points for that, but next time, like you really mean it, Grrr!

But you're right.

You got the points.

We move on.

Never say "Nevermore."

Back in 2022, which NFL team brought back mascots Edgar and Allen to rejoin Poe after a 14-year absence?

That's Team Naylor, Ellie: the Ravens -That's right.

Get it?

All right.

Which luxury auto brand was founded in 1963 by an Italian manufacturer who previously used surplus war machinery to make farm equipment?

Team Parise, Zach: Mercedes -No.

Team Naylor, Wyatt: Lamborghini -You got it.

Can you believe that a Lamborghini came from a guy who made farm equipment?

Okay, I don't know.

Next question.

The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company chain of casual seafood restaurants, founded in 1996, named after the fictional shrimping enterprise in what movie?

Team Naylor, Thomas: Forrest Gump -Run, Forrest, run!

Let's find out who won.

Final score for the Junior Varsity Quiz All-Star Match: Team Parise, 90 points; Team Naylor, 160 points.

Congratulations to Team Naylor.

You guys are the Junior Varsity Quiz All-Star bragging rights champions.

[cheers and applause] But we wanted to have all the players from both teams and their coaches, because we're wrapping up the 56th season of Junior Varsity Quiz and Varsity Quiz.

Each and every match, by the way, posted online at vegaspbs.org.

You can share the excitement with your family and friends all over the world.

Thanks for tuning in.

We'll see you next year for the 57th season of Varsity Quiz on Vegas PBS.