SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The team from Lenox Memorial High School is the champion of the 62nd season of "As Schools Match Wits." 

 

The season ended on Saturday, June 24, with the broadcast on New England Public Media TV of the championship match between Lenox and Westfield High School. 

 

Lenox will proudly take home the Collamore Cup.

 

"As Schools Match Wits" pits teams of western New England high schoolers against each other in a fun but competitive game of academic performance. The competition is open to both public and private high schools throughout western New England.

 

The show was created by Leonard J. Collamore in 1961 to showcase local students in an engaging format. Today, "As Schools Match Wits" is co-produced by NEPM and Westfield State University and hosted by award-winning local TV journalist Beth Ward. The show is produced using Westfield State facilities and students in the Department of Communications serve as the production crew. NEPM supplies professional production, broadcast, marketing, and technical support. It is one of the longest-running shows of its kind in the nation.

 

Four teams participated in the semifinal rounds, which were broadcast on NEPM. On Saturday, June 10, Lenox Memorial was pitted against the Academy at Charlemont. On Saturday, June 17, Westfield High competed with Amherst Regional High School. Lenox and Westfield won their semifinal matches and advanced to the championship.

 

After two seasons of special procedures to accommodate the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a return to normal for Season 62 with teams and host Beth Ward interacting in a single studio together. Faculty advisers play an important role in the process and many jumped at the opportunity to sign up their school's teams this year. Then, they spent countless hours working with their students to get them ready.

 

"It was a great season with 36 schools participating," said Mark St. Jean, Westfield State University producer. "We were able to expand the schedule again to include four quarterfinal matches in addition to the semifinals and the championship. The teams seemed very motivated and that was apparent in every match. I commend all of the coaches for getting their teams prepared and I congratulate Lenox Memorial High School for their championship win in a down-to-the-last-question match against a very strong Westfield High team."

 

"As we draw the curtain on the 62nd season of ASMW, I want to congratulate this year's champions, Lenox Memorial, on their hard-fought victory, and thank all of the teams that participated for sharing their academic skills with us," said 

 

Tony Dunne, NEPM content director and the show's executive producer congratulated the Lenox team  "on their hard-fought victory" and thanked the other teams for participating. 

 

"My thanks as well to Mark St. Jean and our colleagues at Westfield State University for being such wonderful production partners," he said. We look forward to welcoming students from across the region once again this coming fall when we kick off the historic 63rd season of 'ASMW!'"

 

The championship match and all matches of the 62nd season are available for streaming at video.nepm.org.