From the Stevens Point Journal April 13, 2004:

Caffeine fuels many for Trivia

By SUSAN KAMPMEIER
Journal staff

From colossal cups of coffee to tie-dyed T-shirts, Trivia 35 players, volunteers and organizers know what it takes to make it through the mind-melting marathon that celebrates life's minutiae.

"It's got to be my 64-ounce mug filled with Mountain Dew," said Jason Bilbrey of the team The Collective.

Caffeine is a constant contest companion for Jane Anderson,

COMING WEDNESDAY Trivia teams rely on a variety of reference materials in their quest to be the best. Find out some teams' all-time favorites in Wednesday's Journal. TRIVIA WEEK Registration: Teams can register to play in this weekend's contest from 3 to 7 p.m. today through Thursday and noon to 6 p.m. Friday at WWSP-FM at the Communication Arts Center, 1101 Reserve St. Cost is $30 per team. Trivia-themed clothing and accessories are available for purchase. Hits Week: WWSP-FM will broadcast the best in college rock over the past 20 years, before the radio station switches to the Trivia Warmup Show on Friday. Trivia Parade: Candy and floats are the key players in the annual Trivia Parade. The parade starts at 4 p.m. at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's Lot Q on Illinois Avenue, winds through campus and wraps up at the P.J. Jacobs Junior High School parking lot. Thanks For The Contest: Tune in to Trivia 35 on WWSP-FM or check out the Web cast starting at 6 p.m. Friday. The contest runs 54 hours straight. Roughly 12,000 players take part on almost 500 teams each year.

Nekoosa, who plans to compete. "For me, it's Coke," Anderson said. "I live on Coke anyway."
But she still manages to squeeze in four to six hours of sleep each night of the contest, she said.

While nerve-jangling quantities of coffee and soda are staples of Trivia weekend, they are no-nos for quizmaster Jim "Oz" Oliva.

"No caffeine during Trivia, only water," Oliva said. For the past five years, he's sworn off caffeinated beverages during the contest because it wrecks his voice, he said. He quoted John Lennon as he dodged a chance to offer advice for must-have items for players.

"Whatever gets them through the night," Oliva said.

That changes every year for Betsy Barden, Plover, of Nostalgic Idiots Mentally Reliving Our Delusions of Success, or Nimrods for short.

"Last year, it was tangerine-flavored Altoids," Barden said. From handling the tin as a type of talisman during tough questions to holding informal contests to see how many candies team members could pack in their mouths, the Altoids were a hit, Barden said.

For members of Dad's Computers, Pixie Stix are the must-have Trivia treat.

The needs of members of BASP 42: A New Hope range from Spartan to specific. Team member Mike Seaman counts on his coffee. But Scott Junge is focused solely on the questions. "I don't need anything. I just need a computer," he said.

R.J. Kleman likes plenty of creature comforts, including video games, a fridge full of caffeinated beverages - "Anything with Doctor or Mountain is good," - and a blanket that he likes to tie around his neck like a cape and wear as if he's a Trivia superhero.
A blanket is a must-have for Mike "Kurt" Schiebel, but for a completely different reason. "I'm not planning on staying up 54 hours," he said.

Those who are in it for the long haul say comfort is key to survival.

Ben Scheer of The Collective can think on his feet just fine - so long as he's kicking back in his black slippers. "That's a kind of tradition," Scheer said.

Comfy seating, like cushions and bean bag chairs, are vital, said Tom Mathias of Finding Neebins. "If you're not sitting in a comfortable chair, the 54 hours lasts a long time," he said.

As 30-year veteran of Trivia, Mayor Gary Wescott has played the game, read questions on the air and answered phones during the contest, which he plans to do again this year. During his shift, Wescott eschews his usual suit and tie for blue jeans and a sport shirt.

"You have to dress comfortably for it," Wescott said.
His equipment roster also includes a big mug of coffee, a fast finger on the phone, a pencil and a sense of humor.

"You have to go in there with a great sense of humor, because you're going to hear some really wacky and absolutely outrageously funny things on the phone," Wescott said.

Kampmeier can be reached at 715-344-6100, Ext. 2503, or at susan.kampemeier@cwnews.net.