History of Sports Trivia
2022 - SPORTS TRIVIA 14
We're working on the 2022 History recap. Please check back. Results are available here.
2021 - SPORTS TRIVIA 13 (Virtual)
We're working on a 2021 History article. Please check back. Results are available here.
2020 - SPORTS TRIVIA 12
One True Team also won Sports Trivia 4 (2012) and ST 6 (2014). In fact, since OTT began competing in 2011, missing only our 2016 event, the OTT crew has NEVER finished worse than 3rd Place! They were runners-up in 2011, 2013 and 2017-19, and took third in 2015.
2019 - SPORTS TRIVIA 11
We'll be adding a 2019 History article shortly. Please check back. View results here.
2018 - SPORTS TRIVIA X
With a new home -- Trinity High School in River Forest, Ill. -- allowing for more tables, we grew to 102 teams and over 600 players for Sports Trivia X. Once again Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory School is our beneficiary. Check back for further updates, plus our final numbers.
We went to a bracket style format to add even more fun, with Yu Backwards K winning the Wild Onion Tied House Region, Team Gallo winning the Kinslahger Region, theFalcons winning the Two Brothers Social Tap Region and Popeye Jones winning the Oak Park Brewing Co. Region. Team Gallo advanced to the Championship before falling to Popeye Jones.
Popeye Jones' bracket and overall points championship make them holders of a monumental four-peat. For the points crown, they once again defeated The One True Team, a.k.a., the "Phil Mickelsons of Sports Trivia," by a healthy margin of 135 points to 128. The victors' sweet spoils this year? Glorious goldenrod bowling shirts.
In Committee news, the group once again boosted depth and expertise with the addition of two more distinguished gentlemen: Anthony Trotta (this hockey-playing accountant helped improve and upgrade the judging and scoring process) and Alex Holmberg (as a high school teacher and coach, his grading skills came in handy, but even more importantly, being much younger than many on the committee, he provided ability to stay "fresh" and "hip" with the "kids these days.").
2017 - Sports Trivia 9
Thanks to 92 teams and nearly 550 folks in attendance at Sports Trivia 9, we make our largest donation yet: $40,000 to Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory School.
The donation helps four CTK students attend the school while also supporting their work study for local non-profit, BUILD. Based in Chicago's Austin neighborhood, BUILD works on violence prevention with a focus on Austin, East Garfield Park, Humboldt Park and Logan Square. BUILD’s programs are designed to meet both the immediate problem of preventing at-risk youth from joining gangs as well as working with gang-involved youth to develop alternatives to this destructive lifestyle.
In another hotly contested finish, Popeye Jones' Ugly Bros. narrowly win to make it a three-peat defeating frequent bridesmaids, The One True Team. The spoils? A sweet satin team jacket to add to their collection!
Committee member Tim Senechalle, finally off planning meeting truancy probation, is inducted into the SGMSST Hall of Fame. The brains behind bringing Nancy Faust to Sports Trivia 8 (and such a hit we brought her back again for ST9), Tim arranges for Cheryl Scott of ABC7 News to introduce a round and read a question. Well played, sir. The committee also adds new members Chris Hartweg (who brings the committee into the 21st century with Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as well as invaluable marketing advice) and Kit Kadlec (who sets a record for most questions that actually make the cut for the competition by a rookie).
2016 - SPORTS TRIVIA 8
A highlight of the evening was being joined by Nancy Faust, legendary organist for the White Sox. Nancy's round-inspired musical selections, combined with some traditional ballpark tunes, created an unbelievable atmosphere. One of the nicest humans on Earth, she thoroughly entertained all 80 teams for the event (a new record), setting a new record for ST Selfies Taken and showing "The Talent" and the rest of the committee how a true pro does it!
Making it two in a row, Popeye Jones' Ugly Bros. again took the title and got to celebrate with commemorative ABC's Wide World of Sports-esque jackets.
Committee member John Weicher solidifies his place in the Trivia Hall of Fame (he's the only member that this evening can't happen without), putting together an unforgettable video of highlights from the year as well as the first "In Memorium" video retrospective to open the night's festivities.
2015 - SPORTS TRIVIA 7
This year marked the event outgrowing McDonough Hall. The larger space provided by the St. Giles Gym was a much better fit for the 72 teams with over 400 players.
More importantly, it marked the first time that Sports Trivia was dedicated to raising money for distinct charities. The beneficiaries? Highsight (a group focussed on unding scholarships, tutoring, mentoring, leadership development and college readiness programs to inner city kids to enable its students to attend and succeed at the private high school of their choice) and Parenthesis (who support families in need through education, workshops and personal connections). Sports Trivia was thrilled to donate over $20,000 to these worthy charities.
In the end, just ONE point separated the winners Popeye Jones' Ugly Bros. from second place finisher Vegas.
2014 - SPORTS TRIVIA 6
Sports Trivia 6 continued the upward trajectory of the event, bringing together 61 teams and more than 330 participants in a tight race for the trophy. At the end of the night after thrilling nine rounds, just four points separated the champions The One True Team from Mythbusters and Popeye Jones' Kid Plays Hockey. Who knew?
A dramatic hightlight of the evening was the National Anthem, sung by none other than Jim Cornelison taking a break from his regular gig with the Blackhawks.
In all, between registration fees, raffle tickets and the silent auction, over $14,000 was raised for charity.
Tim Senechalle is added to the planning committee. He remains on probation, however, having missed too many committee meetings...some excuse about a newborn baby at home. The committee also contacts Bob Barker about replacing "The Talent," whose head appears to be getting too large. Last minute negotiations with his agent, however, stave off the change...for now. Meanwhile, Rich Majka showcases his deep bartending and beer drinking talents taking ST from Miller Lite served in plastic cups to local microbrew 5 Rabbit served in custom glassware adorned with Trivia Night logos. That inspired move earned him a place in the Trivia Night Hall of Fame.
2013 - SPORTS TRIVIA 5
The Popeye Jones' Ugly Bros. squad makes it's first appearance in the Winner's Circle. It won't be their last. They defeat a familar foe, The One True Team, by a single point. A new record 51 teams toe the starting line.
Chris Wollmuth is added to the planning committee. Bringing a knowledge of Tennis, Golf and Soccer (yes, we know many of you don't consider them sports), he is brought in to pack as many tables as possible into the room. Credit the event's ridiculously tight, some even called it "cheek-to-cheek," seating arrangement to him and his CAD design software.
2012 - SPORTS TRIVIA 4
Rich Majka is added to the planning committee. He is brought on board for an in-depth knowledge of Mixed Martial Arts (who else knows -- or cares -- what a Naked Sleeper Hold is?) and alcohol.
ST4 grows again to 44 teams, and The One True Team squad captained by Paul Veith, wins the closest Sports Trivia to this day. Down 1.5 points going into the final round, TOTT outpoints Capt. Jeremy Bowman's triva crew 9-7 in Round 10 to win by the thinnest of margins half point. Amazing!
2011 - SPORTS TRIVIA 3
Team COTE reigns again, Sports Trivia's first two-time champion. They outlast perennial contenders, One True Team, winning by a single point.
Doug Noyes, a Beloit College hoops legend and currently a local high school athletic director, is added to the planning committee for ST3. Together with fellow Illinois High School Association standout George Valaika, they form a dangerous duo in shaping ridiculously obscure IHSA questions.
2010 - SPORTS TRIVIA 2
Team COTE takes the title in year two.
John Weicher is added to the committee for ST2. He's the man who makes the night tick (ok...MC Mike Andolina contributes here and there, too). John is beloved as the father of all ST A/V and master of the intricate scoring system. Without him, ST becomes a lot harder and runs far less smoothly.
2009 - INAUGURAL SPORTS TRIVIA
Sports Trivia began in 2009, the brainchild of John Lipic (who is alleged to have stolen the idea from an undisclosed location). He was joined by original committee members George "The Ambassador" Valaika, Mike "The Talent" Andolina, Kyle "Show Me the Money" Rettberg and Rich "King of the Multi-Part Question" Weicher.
With 16 teams, almost purely drawn from the St. Giles community, the event was a rousing success with the appropriately named Bob Richard's Merry Band of Hooligans taking home the inaugural trophy.
-SGMS Sports Trivia committee
Current SGMS Sports Trivia committee, listed in order of seniority:
John Lipic (2009)
Mike Andolina (2009)
George Valaika (2009)
Kyle Rettberg (2009)
Rich Weicher (2009)
John Weicher (2010)
Doug Noyes (2011)
Richard Majka (2012)
Chris Wollmuth (2013)
Tim Senechalle (2014)
Chris Hartweg (2017)
Kit Kadlec (2017)
Alex Holmberg (2018)
Anthony Trotta (2018)