Difference between revisions of "Matt Weiner"

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{{Infobox|Name = Thomas Simon
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{{Infobox|Name = Matt Weiner
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|Image = [[File:thomas.jpg]]
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|Image = MattWeiner.JPG
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|Subjects = Computer Science, Math
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|Subjects = General, History, Religion
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|schoolcur = [[Homewood-Flossmoor]]
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|schoolcur = none
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|schoolpast = none
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|schoolpast = [[Pitt]] (2001-2002) [[VCU]] (player 2003-2007, team advisor 2007-2015), [[J. Sargeant Reynolds]] CC (2014)
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|highschool = [[Homewood-Flossmoor]]}}
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|highschool = [[Maggie Walker]] (1998-2000)
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|firstname = Matt
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|lastname = Weiner
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| }}
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'''Matt Weiner''' (IPA: '''/ˈwi.nɚ/''') is one of the greatest quizbowl players in the history of the game, and perhaps the most important figure in promoting the expansion of "[[good quizbowl]]" in the modern era. Across his 17-year career, he played for school teams at [[Maggie Walker|the Governor's School]], [[Pitt]], and [[VCU]], and served as a writer, editor, advisor, tournament director, and organizer for [[VCU]], [[ACF]], [[PACE]], [[NAQT]], [[HSAPQ]], and [[NHBB]] as well as many independent events. Weiner was the founder and long-time owner of the [[hsquizbowl.org|Quizbowl Resource Center]], where he served as a forums administrator from 2003 to 2015, and won the 2004 Benjamin [[Cooper Award|Cooper]] Young Ambassador Award, the 2011 [[Cooper Award|Benjamin Cooper Academic Ambassador Award]], and the 2013 [[Carper Award]] for his efforts.
  
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'''Thomas Simon''' is currently the most handsome player on the [[Homewood-Flossmoor]] high school team. He is one of their better math and science players.
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==Playing==
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Weiner's playing career began on one of the first high school teams that systematically studied past quizbowl questions at the Governor's School of Richmond, which was renamed for [[Maggie Walker]] soon after his graduation (serving as team captain under then-new head coach [[John Barnes]]). He then played in college at [[Pitt]] and for [[VCU]], playing many tournaments solo and racking up many individual scoring titles for much of his time at the latter institution.
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Matt's just-as-long career at open tournaments thereafter included winning the inaugural [[Minnesota Open]] with [[Charlie Dees]], and leading the victorious team at [[Chicago Open]] for an unmatched span of four years straight, from 2007 to 2010, with non-overlapping sets of teammates each time.
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In 2014, Matt reenrolled at [[J. Sargeant Reynolds]] Community College for a single year, ultimately placing 7th at [[2014 ICT]].
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In all, Weiner claimed the [[NAQT]] [[ICT]] DI scoring title four times, including three in succession from 2005-07, both of which are records for the tournament.  With his 2001 scoring title in DII, Weiner became the first player to win scoring titles in both DI and DII.  He added scoring titles at the 2005 and 2007 [[ACF]] Nationals.
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==Writing==
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Matt was a critical force in sustaining "good quizbowl" by editing dozens of tournaments over a span of about 15 years. Some of his most notable editing jobs include:
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*High school
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**[[PACE NSC]]: completed the [[2001 NSC|2001]] set after its head editor disappeared, Chief Editor from 2002 through 2008 (instilling the now-established quality standards of that event), subject editor 2012-2014
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**[[HSAPQ]]: founder, writer, frequent subject editor and set editor (incl. [[NHBB]] 2012-14)
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*College
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**many invitationals, including [[Penn Bowl]] 2007-9, [[ACF Regionals]] 2008 (w/ [[Matt Keller]]), ACF Regionals 2011 (w/ [[Rob Carson]] et al.), [[VCU Closed]] 2013 (with [[Eric Mukherjee]])
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**[[College History Bowl]] 2012, 2014
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**[[ACF Nationals]] 2008 (subject editor), [[ACF Nationals]] 2009 (head editor)
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*Open
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**[[FICHTE]] I and II
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*many incarnations of [[VCU Open]]
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Matt has, however, been criticized for not being a meticulous editor, for writing confusing common link tossups, and for finishing many of his tournaments at the last minute (and on occasion having to cancel them outright, as with College History Bowl 2013 and 2015). [[Ryan Westbrook]] once called him the "Gilbert Arenas volume shooter of quizbowl." [http://hsquizbowl.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=5520]
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Matt was a founder of [[HSAPQ]] and served on the company's board as Chairman from that position's establishment until 2015, and also wrote and subject-edited for [[NAQT]] for a short period in the mid-2010s.
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 +
After the contract between [[NHBB]] and [[HSAPQ]] was not renewed for the 2014-15 year, Matt was hired full-time as Head Writer for all events under the History Bowl and History Bee aegis worldwide, a position he held from July 2014 until his March 2015 resignation.
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==Quizbowl Advocacy==
 +
 
 +
Matt Weiner has been one of the most important advocates of "good quizbowl" in the modern era. His roles editing the PACE NSC for seven years, directing that tournament thereafter in 2009, 2012, and 2013, and mentoring new members helped establish that organization's reputation. In 2003, he created the [[hsquizbowl.org]] forums (now the Quizbowl Resource Center), and oversaw the integration of [[quizbowlpackets.com]] and [[Jeffrey Hill]]'s ScoBo results database into that site as the [[Quizbowl Resource Database]] in 2012. Matt has also been an important leader for quizbowl in the state of Virginia since his graduation by serving as an informal coach to [[VCU]], and has mentored several high school players such as [[Tommy Casalaspi]] and [[Sarah Angelo]] by holding summer practices at [[VCU]]. Starting in 2010, he also oversaw the transition of [[VHSL]], previously a much-maligned event, to a partnership with HSAPQ, which now means that 90% of all high schools in the state of Virginia are part of an institution that uses "[[good quizbowl|good]]" questions and can be prepared for in the same way as weekend tournaments. For many years he also staffed or directed a tournament almost every weekend, including [[ACF Nationals]] 2009, 2012, 2013, and 2014.
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On March 5th, 2015, Weiner resigned effective immediately from all of his remaining quizbowl commitments, precipitating the [[5th of March Incident|NHBBBlitz]].
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==See also==
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*[[Weiner's Laws]]
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*[[Weiner's Factual Argument Paradox]]
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{{Succession_box_(Carper)
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|year = 2013
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|previous = [[Jeff Hoppes]]
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|next = [[Susan Ferrari]]
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|}}
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{{Succession_box_(Cooper)
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|year = 2011
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|previous = [[R. Robert Hentzel]]
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|next = [[Linda Greene]] & [[David Riley]]
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| }}
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{{Succession_box_(Young_Cooper)
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|year = 2004 (with [[David Bykowski]])
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|previous = None
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|next = [[Tom Egan]]
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| }}
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{{Succession_box_(Individual)|Individual Honor = [[ACF|ACF Nationals Leading Scorer]]
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|year = 2005
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|previous = [[Wesley Mathews]]
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|next = [[Matt Lafer]]
 +
| }}
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{{Succession_box_(Individual)|Individual Honor = [[ACF|ACF Nationals Leading Scorer]]
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|year = 2007
 +
|previous = [[Matt Lafer]]
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|next = [[Mike Sorice]]
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| }}
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{{Succession_box_(Individual)|Individual Honor = [[ICT|ICT DII Leading Scorer]]
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|year = 2001
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|previous = [[Steve Perry]]
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|next = [[Matt Lafer]]
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| }}
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{{Succession_box_(Individual)|Individual Honor = [[ICT|ICT DI Leading Scorer]]
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|year = 2002
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|previous = [[Andrew Yaphe]]
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|next = [[Subash Maddipoti]]
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| }}
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{{Succession_box_(Individual)|Individual Honor = [[ICT|ICT DI Leading Scorer]]
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|year = 2005
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|previous = [[Sudheer Potru]]
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|next = [[Jerry Vinokurov]]
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| }}
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{{Succession_box_(Individual)|Individual Honor = [[ICT|ICT DI Leading Scorer]]
 +
|year = 2007
 +
|previous = [[Jerry Vinokurov]]
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|next = [[Jerry Vinokurov]]
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| }}
  
 
[[Category: People]]
 
[[Category: People]]
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[[Category: HSAPQ]]
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[[Category: Maggie Walker]]
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[[Category: VCU]]
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[[Category: Pitt]]
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[[Category: Reynolds]]
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[[Category: Original QBWiki Page]]
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[[Category: High school players active in 1998]]
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[[Category: High school players active in 1999]]
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[[Category: High school players active in 2000]]
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[[Category: Players active in 2001]]
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[[Category: Players active in 2002]]
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[[Category: Players active in 2003]]
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[[Category: Players active in 2004]]
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[[Category: Players active in 2005]]
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[[Category: Players active in 2006]]
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[[Category: Players active in 2007]]
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[[Category: Players active in 2008]]
 
[[Category: Players active in 2014]]
 
[[Category: Players active in 2014]]
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[[Category: Players active in 2015]]
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[[Category:Question writers]]
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[[Category: Players active in 2016]]
 
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[[Category: Players active in 2017]]
 
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[[Category: High school players]]
 

Latest revision as of 18:17, 22 September 2023

Matt Weiner
MattWeiner.JPG
Noted subjects General, History, Religion
Current college none
Past colleges Pitt (2001-2002) VCU (player 2003-2007, team advisor 2007-2015), J. Sargeant Reynolds CC (2014)
High school Maggie Walker (1998-2000)
Stats HDWhite • NAQT

Matt Weiner (IPA: /ˈwi.nɚ/) is one of the greatest quizbowl players in the history of the game, and perhaps the most important figure in promoting the expansion of "good quizbowl" in the modern era. Across his 17-year career, he played for school teams at the Governor's School, Pitt, and VCU, and served as a writer, editor, advisor, tournament director, and organizer for VCU, ACF, PACE, NAQT, HSAPQ, and NHBB as well as many independent events. Weiner was the founder and long-time owner of the Quizbowl Resource Center, where he served as a forums administrator from 2003 to 2015, and won the 2004 Benjamin Cooper Young Ambassador Award, the 2011 Benjamin Cooper Academic Ambassador Award, and the 2013 Carper Award for his efforts.

Playing

Weiner's playing career began on one of the first high school teams that systematically studied past quizbowl questions at the Governor's School of Richmond, which was renamed for Maggie Walker soon after his graduation (serving as team captain under then-new head coach John Barnes). He then played in college at Pitt and for VCU, playing many tournaments solo and racking up many individual scoring titles for much of his time at the latter institution.

Matt's just-as-long career at open tournaments thereafter included winning the inaugural Minnesota Open with Charlie Dees, and leading the victorious team at Chicago Open for an unmatched span of four years straight, from 2007 to 2010, with non-overlapping sets of teammates each time.

In 2014, Matt reenrolled at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College for a single year, ultimately placing 7th at 2014 ICT.

In all, Weiner claimed the NAQT ICT DI scoring title four times, including three in succession from 2005-07, both of which are records for the tournament. With his 2001 scoring title in DII, Weiner became the first player to win scoring titles in both DI and DII. He added scoring titles at the 2005 and 2007 ACF Nationals.

Writing

Matt was a critical force in sustaining "good quizbowl" by editing dozens of tournaments over a span of about 15 years. Some of his most notable editing jobs include:

Matt has, however, been criticized for not being a meticulous editor, for writing confusing common link tossups, and for finishing many of his tournaments at the last minute (and on occasion having to cancel them outright, as with College History Bowl 2013 and 2015). Ryan Westbrook once called him the "Gilbert Arenas volume shooter of quizbowl." [1]

Matt was a founder of HSAPQ and served on the company's board as Chairman from that position's establishment until 2015, and also wrote and subject-edited for NAQT for a short period in the mid-2010s.

After the contract between NHBB and HSAPQ was not renewed for the 2014-15 year, Matt was hired full-time as Head Writer for all events under the History Bowl and History Bee aegis worldwide, a position he held from July 2014 until his March 2015 resignation.

Quizbowl Advocacy

Matt Weiner has been one of the most important advocates of "good quizbowl" in the modern era. His roles editing the PACE NSC for seven years, directing that tournament thereafter in 2009, 2012, and 2013, and mentoring new members helped establish that organization's reputation. In 2003, he created the hsquizbowl.org forums (now the Quizbowl Resource Center), and oversaw the integration of quizbowlpackets.com and Jeffrey Hill's ScoBo results database into that site as the Quizbowl Resource Database in 2012. Matt has also been an important leader for quizbowl in the state of Virginia since his graduation by serving as an informal coach to VCU, and has mentored several high school players such as Tommy Casalaspi and Sarah Angelo by holding summer practices at VCU. Starting in 2010, he also oversaw the transition of VHSL, previously a much-maligned event, to a partnership with HSAPQ, which now means that 90% of all high schools in the state of Virginia are part of an institution that uses "good" questions and can be prepared for in the same way as weekend tournaments. For many years he also staffed or directed a tournament almost every weekend, including ACF Nationals 2009, 2012, 2013, and 2014.

On March 5th, 2015, Weiner resigned effective immediately from all of his remaining quizbowl commitments, precipitating the NHBBBlitz.


See also

Carper Award
Preceded by
Year
Succeeded by
Jeff Hoppes
2013
Susan Ferrari
Benjamin Cooper Academic Ambassador Award
Preceded by
Year
Succeeded by
R. Robert Hentzel
2011
Linda Greene & David Riley
Benjamin Cooper Young Ambassador Award
Preceded by
Year
Succeeded by
None
2004 (with David Bykowski)
Tom Egan
ACF Nationals Leading Scorer
Preceded by
Year
Succeeded by
Wesley Mathews
2005
Matt Lafer
ACF Nationals Leading Scorer
Preceded by
Year
Succeeded by
Matt Lafer
2007
Mike Sorice
ICT DII Leading Scorer
Preceded by
Year
Succeeded by
Steve Perry
2001
Matt Lafer
ICT DI Leading Scorer
Preceded by
Year
Succeeded by
Andrew Yaphe
2002
Subash Maddipoti
ICT DI Leading Scorer
Preceded by
Year
Succeeded by
Sudheer Potru
2005
Jerry Vinokurov
ICT DI Leading Scorer
Preceded by
Year
Succeeded by
Jerry Vinokurov
2007
Jerry Vinokurov
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