Our crack team of Addison Independent trivia geeks (Jessie Raymond, Katie Flagg, Trent Campbell and yours truly) competed in and did OK (second place) at Monday night’s useless-data smackdown at Two Brothers Tavern.
Because the event was organized to benefit the Symbol Formerly Known As ACCAG, better known now as Helping to Overcome Poverty’s Effects (HOPE), we had been hoping for plenty of (not too well-informed) competition to help raise money for the cause. With one exception, The Weybridge Cats, that proved to be the case. We’re angling for a rematch next year.
The evening also inspired me to put together The First Randomly Scheduled Addison Independent Sports Trivia Quiz. There are no prizes except enhanced self-esteem (with any luck), possible bragging rights among family and friends, and a few minutes spent not worrying about one’s next car payment or the validity of Obama’s birth certificate.
With no further ado, (answers and scoring — yes, please take credit for knowing some of multi-part questions — below):
QUESTION 1: Name the three Addison County residents who have been named the Vermont Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association athletes of the year in the past decade. (Hint: As my good friend Steve Buxton likes to remind me, Orwell is part of Addison County.)
QUESTION 2: Two local high school football players have kicked game-winning field goals for local teams in championship finals this past decade. Who are they?
QUESTION 3: Who scored the first goal in the first game ever played in Middlebury College’s Chip Kenyon Arena? And who scored the first goal in the second game ever played in The Chip?
QUESTION 4: Which team has won more state or national titles, whichever applies: Mount Abraham field hockey, Middlebury College men’s hockey, Middlebury Union High School girls’ lacrosse or MUHS boys’ lacrosse?
QUESTION 5: Otter Valley won its first softball title in more than a decade in 2009. Who pitched for the previous most recent OV championship softball team, and what current head coach at a local high school played on that team?
QUESTION 6: Which local team has compiled the longest state title winning streak, MUHS girls’ lacrosse, MUHS boys’ lacrosse, or Mount Abe field hockey?
QUESTION 7: Which two local athletes have won state cross-country championships this past decade?
QUESTION 8: Three Vergennes Union High School boys’ basketball players scored 1,000 points this past decade, and each had brothers play on the VUHS varsity, too. Name them and their brothers.
QUESTION 9: A Middlebury College coach has more wins than any other coach in his or her sport in college at any NCAA level. Who is it?
QUESTION 10: Mount Abe girls’ basketball coach Connie LaRose this winter earned her 300th win in that sport. At what other two schools did she earn girls’ hoop wins?
QUESTION 11: What VUHS team has won the most state titles since 2000?
BONUS MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION 12: Which Major League Baseball team is most worth rooting for? A. Boston Red Sox. B. Other.
ANSWERS:
1. Alyssa Trudel, Shoreham; Mary Heitkamp, Orwell; Sarah Dalton, Cornwall.
2. Averill Wickman, MUHS, and Kyle Pinkham, OV.
3. Game 1, Sarah Carpenter for the Panther women; Game 2, Ben Barnett for the Panther men.
4. Panther men’s hockey has won eight NCAA titles, one more than the MUHS girls’ lacrosse team has state titles.
5. Pitcher: Apryle Pickering; Coach: Marie Eugair, MUHS softball.
6. Eagle field hockey, five, one more than either Tiger team.
7. Amanda Bodette, overall, and Emily Anderson, Division II, both MUHS.
8. Jesse Epstein, older brother Ben; Eric Evarts, younger brother Judd; and Connor Merrill, older brother Nate.
9. Panther women’s hockey coach, Bill Mandigo, 391 wins and counting.
10. Beeman Academy and Bristol High School.
11. Cheerleading with four, one more than girls’ soccer.
12. You have to check?
SCORING:
• 1-2 Correct: You are a faithful fan of “Arts Beat.”
• 3-5 Correct: You are a faithful fan of at least one or two schools.
• 6-9 Correct: You are a faithful fan of local sports.
• 10-11 Correct: Please don’t apply for my job. 
Andy Kirkaldy may be reached at [email protected].