From the Stevens Point Journal April 7, 2008:

WWSP prepares for Trivia

Staff: It takes weeks to get ready

By Shenandoah Sowash
Journal staff

Trivia players aren't the only ones preparing for this weekend's contest.

Staff at WWSP-90 FM, the student radio station at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, have been working long hours to ensure the 39th annual Trivia runs successfully. The 54-hour event runs from 6 p.m. Friday to midnight April 13.

James Priniski, foreground, and other WWSP-FM90 workers carry in merchandise for the Trivia contest at the radio station at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. THOMAS KUJAWSKI/STEVENS POINT JOURNAL

Trivia wizard Jim "The Oz" Oliva gives radio staff member task lists weeks in advance. Responsibilities range from arranging food pick-up to installing phone lines to developing on-air Trivia promotions.

"You think you'll be doing about 20 hours a week of prep work, but it's easily 40 or 50 hours each week ... It's relentless. I've been in the station with everyone else for at least six or seven hours every day for a while now," said Brian Tamling, sponsorship director.

Station employees must also provide Oliva with sleep schedules because some staff members must be present throughout the contest.

"With 12,000 people playing, there are a lot of factors to consider. We just have to be prepared," Tamling said.

Sports director Matt Mleziva has the immense responsibility of providing food for the volunteers. About a month before Trivia, Mleziva contacts local businesses. Mleziva keeps busy with an estimated 10 volunteer shifts with between 20 and 25 volunteers each.

"It's worth it when you can feed all these people. It helps especially at two in the morning when you've been up for 12 hours answering phones. It's nice to have a slice of pizza next to you," Mleziva said.

Every four hours, Mleziva visits about four restaurants to pick up food.

"It's a lot of driving. I personally pick up food from each place except during my three-hour nap on Saturday. ... As the contact, I like to be the one who's there to thank them and make sure they want to donate next year," he said.

Popular cuisine items include coffee, cookies, breakfast sandwiches, wraps and, naturally, soda and energy drinks, provided by Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers and local gas stations.

Production director Shawn Connelly says the biggest challenge is maintaining continuity from year to year.

"Some people come up to us and say, 'Have you tried this?' Oz says, 'We've tried that. It doesn't work.' Oz ... values our input, but he also has a rubric because he knows what he's doing," Connelly said.

Staff members also are is responsible for Trivia merchandise, including clothing, coffee mugs, car flags and Christmas ornaments.

"I'm just getting more and more excited for it. ...I'm pumped," said station manager Evan Clucas.