Underdogs and Runners Up Shine at Trivia Bowl
By Jessica Delaney

Last year’s runners-up, this year’s winners. The Trinity Trivia Trio took home the coveted first place mugs at the Great Turtle Trivia Bowl. The team, comprised of (from left) Sue Myron, Trish Martin, and Dan Seeley proved themselves the monarchs of Mackinac knowledge and toasted their success.

What island job uses as their motto the phrase, “Why wing it when you can stack it high and tight?” How much does it cost to properly dispose of a mattress on Mackinac Island? Will anyone be able to top last year’s Trivia Bowl winners?

Participants in the 2nd Annual Great Turtle Trivia Bowl hoped they knew the last question, at least, and that the answer was yes. Eight teams, comprised of three people each, came together Thursday, July 28, in a show of mental ferocity, as Island knowledge and memories took center stage.

In the single elimination tournament, winners of each matchup advanced to play other winners in three rounds of competition. Each round consisted of 20 questions. Teams won 10 points for each question answered correctly, and lost the same number of points when a question was asked incorrectly. Two lifelines were made available to each team in each round.

Questions were on a variety of subjects, including buildings and landmarks, multimedia, personalities, government and island organizations, businesses, animals, arts, Straits area facts, maritime history, and geology and natural history. Mackinac State Historic Parks Director Phil Porter was the judge and comic Stu Stuart was emcee. Lily Porter and Brita Olson were the scorekeepers.

The first match-up was between last year’s winners, Fr. Jim’s Babes, with Katie Cederholm, Val Porter, and Margaret Doud, and a new group, the Mackinac Island Community Foundation’s Factfinders, with Lorna and Frank Straus and Bob Tagatz. Father Jim’s Babes started out strong, taking an early lead, but after about the 12th question, the Factfinders made a miraculous comeback. It wasn’t quite enough to win, however, as Fr. Jim’s Babes took the round with a score of 90 to 70. It looked as though last year’s winners would be the team to beat once again.

Who is that cute little kid climbing into a wading pool? Here’s a hint, he later became a collegiate diver.

The second match-up featured a pair of underdogs, with the Little Women taking on a tenacious trio of island EMTs. Neither team got off to a good start. In fact, by the 10th question, both teams had negative points. They were stumped by a photograph taken at the Haunted Theater, both losing points for that one. And neither team could call to mind who wrote the “Lore of the Great Turtle.” (For 10 points, who did write the book featuring the Native American legend?) In a great show of strength, Little Women finally managed to pull ahead, winning the round 50 to 10.

The third match-up proved less eventful, as the teams of the Mackinac Mashers and the Bibliochicks dueled back and forth, remaining within 20 points of each other for the entire round. The Mashers pulled ahead with the last question, and took the round, 20 to 10.

The final match-up in round one was between the Deacons of Details and the Trinity Trivia Trio. The Trivia Trio was geared up and ready to win. In last year’s competition, they lost in the final round to Fr. Jim’s Babes, and this time were back, ready and rearing to take home the coveted Trivia Bowl mugs. It was a hard-fought battle of wits, as each team struggled, called on lifelines, and buzzed in rapidly. The contest was ultimately won by the Trivia Trio, 80 to 60.

What building on the Island features architecture resembling the gothic revival?

For round two, Fr. Jim’s Babes found themselves matched against Little Women. Between being the reigning champions and the Little Women’s less-than-perfect performance in round one, it appeared that this match-up wouldn’t prove much of a contest. But, throughout the 20 questions, Fr. Jim’s Babes found themselves plagued by specific numbers and small mistakes, while the Little Women seemed to nail every question. In a stunning turn of events, the Little Women triumphed over the previous titleholders with a tight score of 40 to 30, and advanced to the final round.

In the second matchup of the second round, the Mackinac Mashers took on the Trinity Trivia Trio. Battle raged back and forth, fire spitting out of the eyes of the participants. In the end, the Trivia Trio went on to defend their status as runners up, and to duke it out for the gold against the Little Women. They triumphed over the Mashers with a score of 80 to 60.

Competition was fierce, and sweat beaded on the brows of the six people assembled on the Mission Point Theater dais. Buzzers rang, photos flashed, and the scorekeepers found themselves furiously erasing and rewriting scores.

The Little Women and the Trinity Trivia Trio remained within 20 points of each other throughout the round. With two questions left, the teams were tied at 40 points. With one question left, the Trinity Trio pulled ahead.

The Little Women were behind by 10, their only hope of winning was to correctly answer this last question. Miraculously, they achieved their goal, and for the first time in the long and revered history of the Trivia Bowl, the final match-up tied.

Stu Stuart pulled out the sudden death envelope, reserved for high stress occasions. Slowly, he pulled apart the seal, and pulled out the five final questions that would seal the fate of the winning, and losing, team.

“Well,” said Mr. Stuart, looking down at the five questions in his hand. “Apparently it’s going to be a slow sudden death.”

Neither team was willing to go down easily. With one question left in the sudden death, the Trinity Trio were once again ahead by 10. The Little Women found themselves in a familiar position. Answered correctly, they would once again force a tie, but if they couldn’t answer this final question, the Trinity Trio would come out the victors.

Who won the snowmobile in the 2004 Christmas Bazaar raffle?

Both teams were stymied, though the Trinity Trio was beginning to look smug, realizing that they were the winners. But the Little Women weren’t ready to throw in the towel just yet.

Candi Dunnigan hit her buzzer, and stared out into the crowd gathered to watch the trivia bowl. “We’ll use Jennifer Bloswick as a lifeline!”

The theater was silent. Mr. Stuart shaded his eyes and look out into the dark crowd. Nobody was answering the lifeline. “Is Jennifer Bloswick here?” Mr. Stuart asked as only silence was heard.

Ms. Bloswick, executive director of the Mackinac Island Community Foundation, slowly nodded her head. “I’m here, I’m just pretending I’m not here,” she said. “I just don’t know the answer.”

Without a correct answer, the Little Women had to admit defeat, and the Trinity Trivia Trio, comprised of members Trish Martin, Dan Seeley, and Sue Myron, took home the coveted first place, which they had so narrowly missed winning in the past.

The event was held as a fundraiser for Mackinac Associates, the “friends” organization for the Mackinac State Historic Parks.

The answers to the questions in the article: dock porters, $20, yes, Phil Porter, Dirk Gringhuis, Small Point B & B, and Brad Chambers.