Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - Answer: The high school junior with local ties who will appear on Jeopardy!'s teen tournament this spring.
Question: Who is Lindsey Nicolai?
Lindsey Nicolai also is the granddaughter of longtime Main Street resident Mildred Nicolai and the daughter of Larry and Debra Nicolai of Hampton, Va.
"We just don't miss it," Lindsey said of the popular game show. "It is taped on the nights we're away from the house."
Lindsey and Larry visited Mildred for the holidays last week and headed back to Virginia.
Lindsey, 16, is a junior at Warwick High School in Newport News. A member of the golf team, she is enrolled in the rigorous international baccalaureate program.
Jeopardy! fans will recognize the name of Christian Haines, a Warwick High School graduate, who recently won $105,000 on the show.
"I saw him in the grocery store," Lindsey said. "I talked to him and he gave me his telephone number. He said I could call him anytime about the show."
Lindsay took the online Jeopardy quiz. Questions must be provided to answers within 10 seconds. She submitted her questions and was invited to try out for the show in Nashville, Tenn.
The family went to Tennessee in early November where Lindsey was one of hundreds of hopeful contestants.
"They do a mock show with the kids alternating as contestants and audience members," said Larry, a 1957 Syracuse High School graduate.
The Nicolais received confirmation of Lindsey's appearance on the teen tournament, for ages 13 to 17, earlier this month.
"She has a huge support group in Virginia," her father said. "It's ironic that Christian Haines attended the same high school."
The family will fly out to California in March and stay with Lindey's older sister, Heather, who lives in a nearby town.
The Teen Tournament format is like the show's college championship and tournament of champions: five quarterfinal games produce five semifinalists, or winners, each "day" and four high scorers among the non-winners; three semifinals produce three finalists who compete in a two-game final.
Taping of the tournament is completed in two days.
Lindsey was thrilled to discover Jeopardy is aired twice a day here.
The grand prize for winning the teen tournament is $75,000; a $50,000 second prize; and $25,000 for third place. She will receive $5,000 just for being a contestant.
Lindsey said her strong suit is sports and she likes the before-and-after categories. She expects she'll have to know the U.S. presidents, history and world capitals.
She's going to bone up on current and pop culture like the Harry Potter novels and "The Lord of the Rings."
"I think most of the game is about hitting the buzzer," she said. "At least you can be first to answer and have a couple of seconds to think of the right one. I'm looking forward to it."
