Father Rey's Babes Take 3rd Annual Trivia Bowl By Storm
By Leslie Rott

Father Rey's Babes, (from left) Val Porter, Margaret Doud, and Katie Cederholm, celebrate their victory at the Great Turtle Trivia Bowl. The team beat seven other teams in the single elimination tournament.

True or false? The United States Postal Service utilizes the 9-1-1 address system? Who took the picture of Round Island being struck by lighting in the 2007 Seasons of Mackinac calendar? Will Trinity Trivia Trio win again?

Participants in the Third Annual Great Turtle Trivia Bowl put on their thinking caps and brought all of their Mackinac knowledge to the table. Eight three-person teams came together Thursday, July 27, in a great show of wits, and Father Rey's Babes, who won in 2004, took the Trinity Trivia Trio in the final moments to earn bragging rights and coffee mugs.

The fun event raises money for Mackinac Associates, the friends group supporting Mackinac State Historic Parks.

In the single elimination tournament, winners of each match-up 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 10 points when a question was answered incorrectly. Two lifelines could be utilized by each team in each round, which involved selecting an audience member to answer the questions. Teams had the option of accepting or rejecting the lifeline's answer.

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 and Marta Olson were the judges and Island comic Stu Stuart was the emcee, while Lily Porter and Brita Olson kept score.

For decades, it cost this much to climb Castle Rock? (This question had both Father Rey's Babes and Little Women stumped right off the bat).

The first match-up was between Father Rey's Babes, with Katie Cederholm, Margaret Doud, and Val Porter and Little Women, with Candi Dunnigan, Lornie Porter, and Lin Sheppard. They both missed the question, How much did it cost for decades to climb Castle Rock? The game was neck and neck the entire time, but ultimately, Father Rey's Babes took the round with a score of 60 to 50.

What is the name of Mackinac Associates' quarterly newsletter?

The second pairing featured last year's winner Trinity Trivia Trio taking on Well Red. Well Red started strong, suggesting that they would catapult to victory and leave the seasoned Trinity Trivia Trio in the dust. Neither team was able to come up with which community member was 2005 Volunteer of the Year, and in the end, Trinity Trivia Trio took the round, 80 to 60, indicating early on that they had a shot of winning for the second year in a row.

What day does garbage get picked up on the East Bluff?

The third match-up was pretty much open and shut before it really even got started, between the Mackinac Living Magazine Warriors and the Foundation Fact Finders. Taking the round by storm, the Warriors went on to win the match, 110 to 60.

What is the telephone number of the Mustang Lounge? (No peaking in the phone book).

The final contest in round one was between a new competitor, Dean's Team, and the returning Tri-Agains, comprised of Island emergency medical technicians. Although both teams utilized their lifelines, there was really no contest in the round as the EMT's fought hard against Dean's Team, winning the match, 70 to 40.

Whose husband is named Jim and looks like Catherine Zeta Jones?

For round two, Father Rey's Babes found themselves matched against last year's victor, Trinity Trivia Trio. With emcee Stu Stuart getting excited and shouting out the answers, extra questions had to be used. Leaving last year's winners in the dust and a little frustrated at their less-than-perfect performance, Father Rey's Babes triumphed over the previous titleholders with a tight score of 60 to 50, advancing to the final round. Mr. Stuart got 30 points.

The Magazine Warriors took on the Tri-Agains in the next contest, and scoring went back and forth, but in the end, the battle proved to be too much for the EMT's, who put forth a valiant effort, losing out to the Warriors, 50 to 40.

What relation are Wade and Rick Marshall of Marshall Builders? So it came down to a battle

of wits and gender, as Father Rey's Babes faced the Magazine Warriors, with members Jeff Dupre, Larry Parel, and Bob Tagatz. Hitting the buzzer first, but missing the answers, plagued the Warriors and knowing the price of a Trapper Burger at the Gate House couldn't bring the team back. Father Rey's Babes catapulted to victory with an untouchable score of 80 to -10, putting the winner of the first Trivia Bowl back in the victory chair for the second time in three years. They received commemorative coffee mugs, while donated prizes of dinners, gifts, and gift certificates from merchants were distributed to the other teams.

The answers to the questions, by the way, are true, Greg Main, a dime, Curiosities, Tuesday, 847-9916, Brenda Bunker, Urvana Morse, cousins, and $8.