From the Stevens Point Journal April 19, 2009:

54-hour trivia contest rolls on with 12,000 players

Thousands of human encyclopedias flocked to Stevens Point this weekend, eager to test their knowledge -- or their Google skills -- in WWSP 90FM's annual Trivia contest.

Members of the Amherst Whale Watch team playing from Amherst ride in the parade Friday afternoon for the 40th Annual Trivia Contest. (THOMAS KUJAWSKI/STEVENS POINT JOURNAL)

But for many reasons, such as the proliferation of Internet play or something as simple as a change of address, dozens played without setting up shop in Stevens Point -- some without even entering Wisconsin.

During the 54-hour Trivia contest, contestants race to correctly answer questions read on air, racking up points used to determine the winner. Teams can have as many players as they like, and this year, about 450 teams representing nearly 12,000 players were expected to compete.

With 90FM streaming online, teams slowly have been shifting toward the Web, with 20 signing up for the contest by going online this year. For teams far away, that means sacrificing points on the Trivia Stone and running clue segments of the contest, which can only be played in Stevens Point, virtually ensuring their defeat.

"I think if we were really serious about winning, (not being in Point) would be a huge disadvantage," said Anne Barnes, whose team "That's What She Said" logged on from her home in Apple Valley, Minn.

Barnes grew up playing Trivia in Stevens Point, and after the contest went online, she wanted to share the experience with her friends in Minnesota.

It has been hard for a veteran such as Barnes to explain all the intricacies of Trivia to her friends who haven't seen it in person, and she said she finds herself feeling nostalgic for her days playing the game in central Wisconsin. Her husband did go above and beyond last year to try and set the right mood for the whole team.

"He kind of fake did (a Trivia Stone clue) so they could hear what it sounds like," she said, although he didn't map anything out. "He actually recorded one so they could hear what it would sound like."

But not everyone without a Point home base is forfeiting points. When Paula Cluck moved to Nekoosa from Stevens Point, so did her team, "Couch Potatoes, Here's Looking at You Spud."

Cluck said team members still would be heading back to Point for the Trivia Stone and running clues. It may mean a more miles on the odometer, but traveling does have its benefits.

"One of our team players owns a pizza place, and usually, he'd come one night during Trivia and bring pizza," Cluck said. "This year, he'll be here all weekend bringing us pizza, so that's a plus."