MasterMinds

With a final meet in Buffalo yesterday, the 2022-2023 MasterMinds regular season is complete. Playoffs have begun for some regions already, with the others following suit soon. Thanks to all the coaches who helped make this happen, and to all the kids who thrilled us with their knowledge.

Congratulations to the four regional MasterMinds champions: Williamsville East (Buffalo), Pittsford Sutherland (Rochester), Fayetteville-Manlius (Syracuse) and Niskayuna (Albany)!

With MasterMinds registration materials having just been put in the mail, we can announce that in-person play will be resuming for this year. As long as health professionals give the go-ahead, in-person play will continue through the year. This will also be the case for our partner program, Interscholastic Chess.
With the health and well-being of the students in mind, the decision has been made that players and coaches attending any in-person meets (MasterMinds, Chess or both) must be vaccinated and wear masks. Some might feel this is unnecessary, but we feel this reasonable, rational, sensible and science-based approach is what is best for everyone.

The 2021-2022 MasterMinds season is, amazingly, right around the corner. Within the next couple weeks, letters will go out to building principals with registration materials, and the sign-up process will begin.
Despite the uncertainty created by COVID, after a full year of remote play, MasterMinds is ready to play, remotely or in-person.
As we gear up for what we hope will be a fun season of games, we are asking 'alumni' of MasterMinds to offer testimonials. If you are a former player, or a coach, we'd like to include your comments. E-mail us at [email protected] and we can add your testimonial to our pages.

The 2021 MasterMinds playoffs begin this week with Buffalo and Albany getting their brackets underway. Rochester's games begin next week. Between the three regions, 54 schools qualified for the post-season. Looking forward to plenty of high-scoring action, a few bracket-busting upsets, and lots of impressive performances from some truly remarkable students. Let the games begin!

The 2020-2021 MasterMinds regular season ended last week. Against significant odds, and recognizing the shocking connectivity gap that exists in some parts of the state, a remarkable 97% of all scheduled games got played. It wasn't always easy, or pretty, but ultimately this was about giving students a chance to participate and they did, grabbing on to that opportunity with both hands!
Special thanks to all the coaches who shepherded their students through the meets, often with little or no in-person contact with the kids. As always, this season could not have happened without their patient work.

The spring term of MasterMinds kicks off January 5, after a delayed start to the fall semester. While a condensed spring season may happen for schools unavailable in the fall, students at the 100 schools currently playing MasterMinds are looking forward to representing their schools in competitive quiz bowl play. We wish them all well!

In modern-day trivia and quiz bowl competitions, there probably isn't any greater influential single individual than Alex Trebek. Trivial Pursuit preceded Alex's time as host of the syndicated game show Jeopardy! by a couple years, but the success of the TV show has been the major factor in the growth of academic competitions. The development of college quiz bowl (NAQT, ACF), the popularity of TV shows (Who wants to be a Millionaire, The Weakest Link), the explosion of bar trivia (Geeks who Drink, and, of course, MasterMinds; we all owe a significant nod to Alex Trebek. It's amazing how pervasive his influence has been. And people who knew him and met him will tell you his kindness was real. A marvelous influence. He will be missed. RIP!

With one week to go for most upstate NY regions, registration for this year's MasterMinds program is understandably falling short of last year's numbers. But only a handful of schools/districts have said no. Most of the schools that haven't signed up are still waiting on approvals, lining up players, looking for new coaches or hoping to play in the spring.

Many have wondered about MasterMinds, given how COVID-19 brought an abrupt end to the season last spring, including cancelling playoffs, and significantly curtailing our summertime senior games.
MasterMinds will be back for a 28th season. The start of the season will be delayed, allowing schools to adjust and adapt to their respective roll-outs of schooling (remote, in-person and hybrid). And all fall games, as well as some -- perhaps all -- of the spring term will be played remotely.
But MasterMinds -- as well as our middle school version, Academic Challenge Bowl, and our companion program, the Interscholastic Chess Leagues -- will be back. Sign-up has begun, and while registrations have been returned at a slower than usual rate, they are coming in.
It will be a season unlike any other, but we're keeping at it.
Thank you all for your inquiries, and expressions of encouragement and support. A quick glance at our testimonials page tells you all you need to know about why MasterMinds -- and programs like it -- matter.

Thanks to those 2020 alumni who attended Tuesday's alumni games: Sierra, Susel, Katelyn, Michael and Gabe.
A fun time was had by all!

NAQT has announced that remote play will be an option this year. With so many questions revolving around the planned re-opening of schools, one question that can be answered is this: MasterMinds will be back this year -- with at least some remote games -- for a full season of games! Details still need to be worked out, and schools/coaches/players should anticipate a slightly later start than normal. But after the cancellation of playoffs last spring, the announcement that remote play will occur gives us confidence that a full season (including playoffs!) will be possible.