Difference between revisions of "Brain Busters"

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Brain Busters, stylized as '''BrainBusters''', is a high school quiz bowl tournament sponsored by WellSpan Health (formerly by Westfield Insurance and Capital Blue Cross) and televised by WGAL 8 of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  
+
[[Image: WGAL_8_Brainbusters_Logo.jpg| thumb|WGAL 8 Brain Busters Logo]]
 +
 
 +
Brain Busters, stylized as '''BrainBusters''', is a high school quiz bowl tournament sponsored by WGAL 8 of Lancaster Pennsylvania.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
−
Brain Busters was first held in 2002. It is hosted by [//http://www.wgal.com/article/meet-the-host/6220304 Rich Rosen], a gifted education teacher and television show host. From 1998 to 2001 it was preceded by a similar program known as High Q, televised by WHTM of Harrisburg and also hosted by Rosen. Rich Rosen is well-regarded for his extremely charismatic, friendly, and welcoming qualities. The show's format is considered [[bad quizbowl|Bad Quiz Bowl]], and has many similar problems that other events like the [[Criticisms of the NAC|NAC]] have. Unlike the NAC, though, Rich Rosen is more professional in his hosting.
+
Brain Busters was first held in 2001-2002. It is hosted by [//http://www.wgal.com/article/meet-the-host/6220304 Rich Rosen], a gifted education teacher and television show host. From 1998 to 2001 it was preceded by a similar program known as High Q, televised by WHTM of Harrisburg and also hosted by Rosen. Rich Rosen is well-regarded for his extremely charismatic, friendly, and welcoming qualities. Similar to other televised academic competitions, Brain Busters is fast paced and includes a variety of different rounds. Rich Rosen is professional and an enthusiastic supporter of academic competition.  For many years, teamss of four competed head-to-head. 
 +
Since 2021-2022, the set has been reconfigured for competition between teams of 3.
  
 
==Format==
 
==Format==
−
The tournament is structured as a single-elimination bracket; recent fields have been capped at 38 teams. Teams are chosen by random drawing; teams from Lancaster, though, are generally given preference, with the remaining slots filled from schools in the Susquehanna Valley. In the past, schools as far away as Mifflin County have attended. A "wild card" slot has been included, depending on the field structure, to let the team with the highest losing score return. In more recent renditions of the program, a third place game has been aired prior to the championship.  
+
The tournament is structured as a single-elimination bracket; Some years, as many as 40-50 teams have competed. Some years, a "wild card" slot has been included, depending on the field structure, to let the team with the highest losing score return. However, in recent years, the competition has typically involved 32 teams in a traditional single-elimination format.  When more teams apply than spots that exist, teams are typically chosen by random drawing; Pennsylvania teams compete from throughout the Susquehanna Valley, especially teams from Lancaster Lebanon, York, Dauphin, and Cumberland Counties, and sometimes including teams from further away (ie. Franklin or Mifflin Counties).
  
−
The format is an idiosyncratic variation of [[Four-quarter format|four-quarter format]] involving five rounds as follows:  
+
The format includes five rounds as follows:  
−
* first round: 10-point [[tossup]]s  
+
* first round: 10-point [[tossup]]s.
−
* second round: one-on-one face-off between individual players on three 10-point [[tossup]]s  
+
* second round: one-on-one face-off between individual players on three 10-point [[tossup]]s.
−
* third round: [[lightning round]] with three choices (rather than the four given at the [[NAC]])
+
* third round: 60-second [[lightning round]] with three category choices.
−
* fourth round: wager round
+
* fourth round: wager round where teams wager up to 25 points (only round scores can decrease).
−
* fifth round: 20-point [[tossup]]s.  
+
* fifth round: 20-point [[tossup]]s.
  
 
==Prizes==
 
==Prizes==
−
Prizes have included various values of college scholarships and free entry to a local amusement park for the student body of the winning high school. Each show often includes a "bonus question" at the end of the first quarter that grants the correct team free Turkey Hill ice cream, or a similar prize.
+
Prizes have changed over the years, as have the show's sponsors. 
 +
:* Capital Blue Cross Blue Shield -- 8 Seasons ('01-'02 until '08-'09)
 +
:* Westfield Insurance -- 7 seasons ('09-'10 until '15-'16)
 +
:* Wellspan Health -- 4 seasons ('16-'17 until '19-'20)
 +
::* note: 2019-2020 season was cut short, and 2020-2021 season did not run due to shutdowns.
 +
:* WGAL -- 4 seasons so far ('22-present)
 +
 
 +
For many years, each show included a "bonus question" during the first round that awarded all players on the team who answered it correctly with a coupon for free Turkey Hill ice cream, or a similar prize.
 +
 
 +
In early years, PASSHE colleges of PA awarded scholarships to students from the winning school.  One year, the entire student body of the winning school was awarded free entrance tickets to Hershey Park.  For several years, members of the first place team were awarded an iPad.
  
−
In more recent years, the program generally hands out grants to the schools on behalf of their sponsor. With the change to WellSpan Health, the prize pool decreased. Teams that make it to a certain point in the tournament are guaranteed a certain level of grant, with better finishes resulting in more money. The highest-known prize given was $5,000 dollars to the winning team. Today, the winning team also receives free iPads. The grant money is written to the school district, where 20% of the funds are allowed to be used in any capacity as decided by the school, but the other 80% must be used for an educational purpose.
+
In more recent years, the sponsor (WGAL-8) generously awards grants to the top finishing schools. Teams that make it to the final four are guaranteed a certain level of grant.  Currently, the champions win $5,000, 2nd place wins $3,000, and the 3rd/4th place teams each win $1,000, for total award value of $10,000 per season.
  
−
All teams that compete are guaranteed to receive a participation award, which previously has included low-quality portable phone chargers and a travel mug, both with the logo of the sponsor on the side.
+
In many seasons, players from all teams have been given a small gift from the sponsor during their first round of play, ensuring that all teams walk away with something.  Some years, this has been a portable phone charger, a flash drive, a travel mug or something else, at the discretion of the sponsor.
  
 
==Explanation of Quality==
 
==Explanation of Quality==
−
The [[tossups]] used in Brain Busters are not pyramidal, and often vary in quality. Questions are rarely longer than two sentences, and mostly require an answerline to be given; others, though, are multiple choice. Multiple choice tossups generally ask for players to name a year an event occurred.
+
The [[tossups]] used in Brain Busters are not pyramidal. Questions are typically 1-2 sentences, and mostly require an answerline to be given; Occasionally, a question may be formatted as a quick multiple choice with several options given in the question (for example when asking in what decade or century something occurred.
  
−
Some questions, though, do start with more obscure information, then ask for something specific in the second sentence. However, these again are not always truly [[pyramidal]], as many of the first sentences include a giveaway clue, leading to buzzer races. Usually, a handful of the tossups each game are [[hose|hoses]].
+
Some questions, though, do start with more obscure information, then ask for something specific in the second sentence. However, these again are not designed to be [[pyramidal]].  Many questions result in a buzzer race.
  
−
In terms of content, Brain Busters actually covers some of the basic high school canon in its tossups, especially in history and literature, as well as current events, sports, and other various [[trash]].
+
In terms of content, Brain Busters essentially covers the same high school canon in its tossups as NAQT and other question sets, just not at the same level of depth.  Some might argue that history, geography, literature, fine arts, and science make up the backbone of the content.  Additionally, topics also include political science, current events, popular culture, mythology, world religions, math, and various other topics.
  
−
In the [[lightning round]], though, the question quality changes significantly. Three categories are given for teams to answer as many questions as possible in 60 seconds, with the team losing getting to pick the category first. The categories, though, are often misleading, except for the almost-always-included category where all answers start with the same letter. Generally speaking, this category is much simpler than others, and is almost always chosen first. The answerlines in this category vary wildly.
+
In the [[lightning round]], three categories are given for teams to answer as many questions as possible in 60 seconds, with the team that is behind getting to pick the category first. The category titles often include clever puns or fun naming that makes it challenging for players to predict exactly what will be asked.  Often, one category will require all answers to start with the same letter or sound. Sometimes, this category is seen as the safer bet. Teams will attempt to select the category they think will move quickly and give them more chances to score points.
  
−
The wager round allows players to gamble between 0 and 25 points. The question is read twice by a recording of a WGAL news anchor and, surprisingly, is often formatted like a pyramidal bonus.
+
The Bonus BrainBuster round allows players to wager between 5 and 25 points. The question is read twice by a recording of a WGAL news anchor and is often formatted like a pyramidal bonus.
  
−
The questions have had numerous repeats, even within the same season, leading to players recording the airings of the show and writing down the questions used. The repeats include both the [[tossups]], as well as unused categories in the lightning round. When asked if the questions are written in-house, Rich Rosen replied that "the questions are from another company the studio hires."  
+
Sometimes, questions will repeat within the same season, but this usually only happens when the previous episode has not yet aired.  However, some players will record the airings of the show and write down the questions used as a method of studying. The repeats include both the [[tossups]], as well as unused categories in the lightning round. When asked if the questions are written in-house, Rich Rosen has said that "the questions are from another company the studio hires."
  
−
'''Results'''
+
==Results==
  
 
{| border="1" cellspacing="0"
 
{| border="1" cellspacing="0"
Line 42: Line 54:
 
! Link
 
! Link
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 2017
+
| 2025
 +
|  [[TBD]] ___
 +
|  [[TBD]] ___
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 2024
 +
|  [[Ephrata]] 240
 +
|  [[Hempfield]] 215
 +
|  [https://youtu.be/uSKFaLxtVIg?si=FF3HrP2J_NfuxNnT Link]
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 2023
 +
|  [[Elizabethtown]] 330
 +
|  [[Hempfield]] 180
 +
|  [https://youtu.be/G7kkeyiKbCU?si=HvaDNFkFty1hk4Uk Link]
 +
|-
 +
| 2022
 +
|  [[Cedar Crest]] 460
 +
|  [[Trinity]] 235
 +
|  [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKwfdb5WULY Link]
 +
 
 +
|-
 +
| 2021
 +
|  Season Cancelled
 +
|  Due to Covid Restrictions
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 2020
 +
|  10-way split
 +
|  Carlisle, Con. Valley, Cumb. Valley, E-town, Hempfield,
 +
Hershey, Mechanicsburg, Penn Manor, Spring Grove, Trinity
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 2019
 +
|  [[Lancaster Mennonite]] 425
 +
|  [[Elizabethtown]] 405
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 2018
 
|  [[Hempfield]] 365
 
|  [[Hempfield]] 365
 
|  [[Ephrata]] 285
 
|  [[Ephrata]] 285
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 2017
 +
|  [[Hempfield]] 465
 +
|  [[Lancaster Mennonite]] 335
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
Line 50: Line 106:
 
|  [[Cedar Crest]] 440
 
|  [[Cedar Crest]] 440
 
|  [[Spring Grove]] 110
 
|  [[Spring Grove]] 110
−
|  [//twitter.com/mrsmalprincipal/status/733094563116687361 Link]
+
|  [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvq92dsJYiA Link]
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2015
 
| 2015
−
|  
+
| [[Carlisle]] ___
−
|
+
| [[Lancaster Mennonite]] __
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2014
 
| 2014
−
|  
+
| [[Manheim Township]] ___
−
|  
+
| [[Harrisburg Academy]] ___
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
Line 78: Line 134:
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2010
 
| 2010
−
|  
+
| [[Hershey]] 470
−
|  
+
| [[Penn Manor]] 370
−
|
+
| [https://www.pennpoints.net/2010/05/28/penn-manor-brain-buster-team-second-in-tournament-2/ Link]
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2009
 
| 2009
 
| [[Cumberland Valley]] 415
 
| [[Cumberland Valley]] 415
 
| [[Lancaster Country Day]] 385
 
| [[Lancaster Country Day]] 385
−
|
+
| [https://youtu.be/oMrSMGTfYN4?si=MN02q2XKXb1PQOtu Link]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|  2008
 
|  2008
−
|  
+
| [[___]] ___
−
| [[Manheim Township]]
+
| [[Manheim Township]]?
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2007
 
| 2007
−
|  
+
| [[___]] ___
−
|  
+
| [[___]] ___
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|-
Line 101: Line 157:
 
| [[Manheim Township]]
 
| [[Manheim Township]]
 
| [http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/22971_PM-quiz-bowlers-prove--Brainiest-.htm Link]
 
| [http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/22971_PM-quiz-bowlers-prove--Brainiest-.htm Link]
 +
|-
 +
| 2005
 +
| [[Elizabethtown]] ___
 +
| [[Carlisle]] ___
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 2004
 +
| [[___]] ___
 +
| [[___]] ___
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 2003
 +
| [[___]] ___
 +
| [[___]] ___
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 2002
 +
| [[Carlisle]] ___
 +
| [[___]] ___
 +
|
 
|}
 
|}
  
Line 106: Line 182:
 
[http://www.wgal.com/article/brain-busters-wgal/6892618 WGAL.com: Brain Busters]
 
[http://www.wgal.com/article/brain-busters-wgal/6892618 WGAL.com: Brain Busters]
  
−
[http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/community/pg.jsp?page=brainbusters Brain Busters on Westfield's site]
 
−
 
−
[https://www.capbluecross.com/PressRoom/NewsReleases/2002NewsReleases/011402BrainBusters.htm Capital Blue Cross press release for the 2002 Brain Busters season]
 
−
 
−
[http://www.lindenhall.org/Ledger/0405-4.htm Linden Hall student newspaper with full format description]
 
  
 
[[Category:High school tournaments]] [[Category:High school quizbowl in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Quizbowl TV shows]]
 
[[Category:High school tournaments]] [[Category:High school quizbowl in Pennsylvania]] [[Category:Quizbowl TV shows]]
 
[[Category:Original QBWiki Page]]
 
[[Category:Original QBWiki Page]]

Latest revision as of 11:29, 16 March 2025

WGAL 8 Brain Busters Logo

Brain Busters, stylized as BrainBusters, is a high school quiz bowl tournament sponsored by WGAL 8 of Lancaster Pennsylvania.

History

Brain Busters was first held in 2001-2002. It is hosted by Rich Rosen, a gifted education teacher and television show host. From 1998 to 2001 it was preceded by a similar program known as High Q, televised by WHTM of Harrisburg and also hosted by Rosen. Rich Rosen is well-regarded for his extremely charismatic, friendly, and welcoming qualities. Similar to other televised academic competitions, Brain Busters is fast paced and includes a variety of different rounds. Rich Rosen is professional and an enthusiastic supporter of academic competition. For many years, teamss of four competed head-to-head. Since 2021-2022, the set has been reconfigured for competition between teams of 3.

Format

The tournament is structured as a single-elimination bracket; Some years, as many as 40-50 teams have competed. Some years, a "wild card" slot has been included, depending on the field structure, to let the team with the highest losing score return. However, in recent years, the competition has typically involved 32 teams in a traditional single-elimination format. When more teams apply than spots that exist, teams are typically chosen by random drawing; Pennsylvania teams compete from throughout the Susquehanna Valley, especially teams from Lancaster Lebanon, York, Dauphin, and Cumberland Counties, and sometimes including teams from further away (ie. Franklin or Mifflin Counties).

The format includes five rounds as follows:

  • first round: 10-point tossups.
  • second round: one-on-one face-off between individual players on three 10-point tossups.
  • third round: 60-second lightning round with three category choices.
  • fourth round: wager round where teams wager up to 25 points (only round scores can decrease).
  • fifth round: 20-point tossups.

Prizes

Prizes have changed over the years, as have the show's sponsors.

  • Capital Blue Cross Blue Shield -- 8 Seasons ('01-'02 until '08-'09)
  • Westfield Insurance -- 7 seasons ('09-'10 until '15-'16)
  • Wellspan Health -- 4 seasons ('16-'17 until '19-'20)
  • note: 2019-2020 season was cut short, and 2020-2021 season did not run due to shutdowns.
  • WGAL -- 4 seasons so far ('22-present)

For many years, each show included a "bonus question" during the first round that awarded all players on the team who answered it correctly with a coupon for free Turkey Hill ice cream, or a similar prize.

In early years, PASSHE colleges of PA awarded scholarships to students from the winning school. One year, the entire student body of the winning school was awarded free entrance tickets to Hershey Park. For several years, members of the first place team were awarded an iPad.

In more recent years, the sponsor (WGAL-8) generously awards grants to the top finishing schools. Teams that make it to the final four are guaranteed a certain level of grant. Currently, the champions win $5,000, 2nd place wins $3,000, and the 3rd/4th place teams each win $1,000, for total award value of $10,000 per season.

In many seasons, players from all teams have been given a small gift from the sponsor during their first round of play, ensuring that all teams walk away with something. Some years, this has been a portable phone charger, a flash drive, a travel mug or something else, at the discretion of the sponsor.

Explanation of Quality

The tossups used in Brain Busters are not pyramidal. Questions are typically 1-2 sentences, and mostly require an answerline to be given; Occasionally, a question may be formatted as a quick multiple choice with several options given in the question (for example when asking in what decade or century something occurred.

Some questions, though, do start with more obscure information, then ask for something specific in the second sentence. However, these again are not designed to be pyramidal. Many questions result in a buzzer race.

In terms of content, Brain Busters essentially covers the same high school canon in its tossups as NAQT and other question sets, just not at the same level of depth. Some might argue that history, geography, literature, fine arts, and science make up the backbone of the content. Additionally, topics also include political science, current events, popular culture, mythology, world religions, math, and various other topics.

In the lightning round, three categories are given for teams to answer as many questions as possible in 60 seconds, with the team that is behind getting to pick the category first. The category titles often include clever puns or fun naming that makes it challenging for players to predict exactly what will be asked. Often, one category will require all answers to start with the same letter or sound. Sometimes, this category is seen as the safer bet. Teams will attempt to select the category they think will move quickly and give them more chances to score points.

The Bonus BrainBuster round allows players to wager between 5 and 25 points. The question is read twice by a recording of a WGAL news anchor and is often formatted like a pyramidal bonus.

Sometimes, questions will repeat within the same season, but this usually only happens when the previous episode has not yet aired. However, some players will record the airings of the show and write down the questions used as a method of studying. The repeats include both the tossups, as well as unused categories in the lightning round. When asked if the questions are written in-house, Rich Rosen has said that "the questions are from another company the studio hires."

Results

Year Champion Runner-Up Link
2025 TBD ___ TBD ___
2024 Ephrata 240 Hempfield 215 Link
2023 Elizabethtown 330 Hempfield 180 Link
2022 Cedar Crest 460 Trinity 235 Link
2021 Season Cancelled Due to Covid Restrictions
2020 10-way split Carlisle, Con. Valley, Cumb. Valley, E-town, Hempfield,

Hershey, Mechanicsburg, Penn Manor, Spring Grove, Trinity

2019 Lancaster Mennonite 425 Elizabethtown 405
2018 Hempfield 365 Ephrata 285
2017 Hempfield 465 Lancaster Mennonite 335
2016 Cedar Crest 440 Spring Grove 110 Link
2015 Carlisle ___ Lancaster Mennonite __
2014 Manheim Township ___ Harrisburg Academy ___
2013 Manheim Township 480 Hershey 305
2012 Manheim Township 545 Lower Dauphin 345 Link
2011 Lancaster Catholic 420 Manheim Township 380
2010 Hershey 470 Penn Manor 370 Link
2009 Cumberland Valley 415 Lancaster Country Day 385 Link
2008 [[___]] ___ Manheim Township?
2007 [[___]] ___ [[___]] ___
2006 Penn Manor Manheim Township Link
2005 Elizabethtown ___ Carlisle ___
2004 [[___]] ___ [[___]] ___
2003 [[___]] ___ [[___]] ___
2002 Carlisle ___ [[___]] ___

External Links

WGAL.com: Brain Busters

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