WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Twenty-three teams filled the arena of the West Plains Civic Center Jan. 27 for the 15th annual Trivia Night benefitting Grizzly Athletics at Missouri State University-West Plains.
The event, hosted by the Grizzly Booster Club, raised $6,500 for the program, organizers said.
More than 180 trivia buffs took part in answering 10 rounds of questions, organizers said, adding a large team of volunteers makes the event successful each year.
A team of university employees and campus friends took home the traveling trophy this year. Members included Jack Bates, Kris Bates, Keri Elrod, Mark Lewis, Bronwen Madden, Brenda Polyard, Sally Robinson and Eryn Walters.
Second place went to last year’s winning team of Amber Carr, Judy Carr, Emma Porter, Ethan Porter, Bekka Ray, David Ray, Josh Ray and Melinda Ray.
Third place went to the team representing West Plains Bank and Trust Company. Members included Brandon Blake, Zachary Davis, Cheryl Finley, Penny Gann, Jeremy Norberg, Melanie Reid, Courtney Richardson and Stephanie Riggs.
All three teams answered the same number of questions correctly, so placing was determined by the contest’s tie breaker, which required all teams to submit their guess for the number of questions they would answer correctly, without going over, at the beginning of the evening.
TABLE DECORATING CONTEST WINNERS
Teams also competed in a table decorating contest. First place went to the “I Thought It Was Speed Dating” team of Dakota Bates, Allyson Bice, Jaima Bice, Heather Kamps, Laurie Wall, Scotty Wall, Bri Walsh and Paula Wiedemann.
Second place in the table decorating contest went to “The Answer is Right” team of Angie Allen, Marcus Allen, Gary Finke, Leann Finke, Kirstie Recktenwald, Nathan Recktenwald, Blake Stephens and Melissa Stephens.
Third place in table decorating went to the “NBC – Nothing But Cauldwells” team of Jack, Jack Sr. and Gayla Cauldwell; Sue Brian; and Natalie, Michael, Shelly, Trey and Kirby Cauldwell.
Each member of the winning teams in the trivia and table decorating contests received a gift bag of prizes, organizers said.
A 50/50 giveaway also was held and was won by William Swinford of Marian, Illinois. With a grand total of $1,420, he received $710, organizers said.
“I cannot remember a 50/50 giveaway being this large for Trivia Night,” said acting Grizzly Booster Club President Bo Pace. “We are very fortunate to live in a community that is willing to pitch in and help out when needed.”
THANK YOU, SPONSORS
Event coordinators also said they would like to thank the many area businesses and individuals who served as category, food and prize sponsors. They include presenting sponsor the West Plains Civic Center; catering sponsors Domino’s Pizza of West Plains and Missouri State University-West Plains Food Services; category and prize sponsors Anytime Fitness, Barker Phillips Jackson, Don’s Auto Service, Edward Jones – Kevin Gleghorn; EJ’s RV Rentals, Gary’s Tire, Gobel’s Collision Repair, Grennan Communications, Heroes Coffee, Hire Well Now, Landmark Bank, Mayfield Auto Repair LLC, Mudbusters, Outpost Motorsports, Ozark Café, Smitty & Company, Somo Crossfit, Southern Bank, Southern Hills Shopping Center, Squire and Squires Investments Inc., State Farm – Ramona Heiney, Vantage Real Estate Group LLC, West Plains Civic Center, West Plains Electric Supply Inc., Wood and Huston Bank, West Plains Country Club Pro Shop and West Plains Municipal Golf Course.
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