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Jan. 9, 2008

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - So far this season, both the men's and women's basketball teams at USC Upstate have been ushered into Division I with the most extensive travel itineraries in school history. So what have the Spartans learned during their travels? From the men's journey to Alaska to the women's two days in historic Charleston, the teams have seen a lot during their non-conference seasons.

Now, as the Atlantic Sun Conference season gets underway, it's time for a final exam for both Nick Schneiders, a two-time member of the Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll, from the men's team and Kelly Westfield, who wrapped up her first semester at USC Upstate with a perfect 4.0 GPA, from the women's team in the first Upstate Basketball Quiz Challenge, with each player answering 10 questions about cities and regions from their pre-season schedule.

Junior Kelly Westfield

1. What non-conference school that we visited plays at the highest elevation (feet from sea level)?
KW: Asheville
(CORRECT: Asheville is 2,134 feet above sea level, the highest point the Spartans played during their non-conference season.) 1 point.

2. This city in North Carolina served as the temporary capital of the Confedarate States of America in from April 11-16, 1865?
KW: Greensboro
(CORRECT: Narrowing down her options to Winston-Salem, Greensboro and Asheville, Kelly picked correctly with Greensboro. During the closing days of the conflict, the Confederate Cabinet members evacuated the Confederate Capital, Richmond, Virginia, and moved south. The group reassembled in Greensboro for five days.) 2 points.

3. What is the only school that you played where the men's team also played in non-conference action?
KW: Wake Forest
(CORRECT: A fast start for Kelly. The women played at Wake's Joel Coliseum on Nov. 13 while the men travelled there on Dec. 1.) 3 points.

4. What city that you played in was famously burned down at the beginning of Sherman's March during the Civil War?
KW: Charleston
(Incorrect: Sherman's March to the Sea followed his successful Atlanta Campaign of May to September 1864. The Spartans played at Georgia Tech on Dec. 6. We'll give Kelly half a point, though, since she correctly stated that General Sherman's troops did eventually also capture Charleston.) 3.5 points.

5. What legendary coach won two NCAA Championships while his men's basketball team played in Memorial Coliseum?
KW: Rupp
(CORRECT: Although, she didn't get the first name, Adolph. The Spartans began their DI era by playing at Kentucky's Memorial Coliseum on Nov. 10. The men's team now plays in Adolph Rupp Arena, while the women play in Memorial.) 4.5 points.

6. What famous frontiersman and folk hero who was killed at the Alamo once lived in Christiansburg, Virginia?
KW: Sam Houston
(Incorrect: Davy Crockett once lived in Christiansburg, where the Spartans visited for dinner the night before they played Radford on Jan. 3.) 4.5 points.

7. What college is the 13^th oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and is the oldest school in South Carolina?
KW: College of Charleston
(CORRECT: Founded in 1770, three founders of the University also signed the Declaration of Independence.) 5.5 points.

8. Although the school wasn't founded until 1927, the land on which what school now stands is also a Civil War battleground, with the battle occurring in April 1865?
KW: College of Charleston
(Incorrect: UNC Asheville - the "Battle of Asheville" was fought in early April 1865 at the present-day site of the University of North Carolina at Asheville. The Spartans played at Asheville on Jan. 8. Once again, we'll give Kelly partial credit, since she said skirmishes were fought near the College of Charleston and since on further review, both CofC's Randolph Hall and Towell Library exhibit damage from the war.) 6.0 points.

9. The port in what town is the fourth busiest in the United States, handling more than $3 million in cargo every hour?
KW: Charleston
(CORRECT: The Spartans played at the College of Charleston on Dec. 3 and at Charleston Southern on Nov. 16, even visiting Charleston's Folly Beach during one trip.) 7 points.

10. From 1991 to 2004, what major league baseball team set a record by winning 14 consecutive divisional crowns?
KW: Atlanta
(CORRECT: The Atlanta Braves were branded "The Team of the `90s" in the early `90s for their domination of the National League en route to 14 straight divisional titles.) 8 points.

So Kelly Westfield finishes her round of questions with eight points, but was it enough to hold on against Spartan junior center Nick Schneiders?

Nick Schneiders

Nick Schneiders represented the men's basketball team in the first Upstate Basketball Quiz Challenge.

1. What non-conference school that we visited plays at the highest elevation (feet from sea level)?
NS: Utah
(CORRECT: Salt Lake City has an elevation of 4,223 feet above sea level.) 1 point.

2. You visited Duquesne in the heart of Pittsburgh, Pa. In the 20^th century, Pittsburgh became one of the most important cities in the country because of what industry?
NS: Steel
(CORRECT: U.S. Steel was formed in 1901 and by 1911 Pittsburgh was producing between a third and a half of the nation's steel.) 2 points.

3. The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) are visible for approximately 200 nights a year in what town that you played in?
NS: Fairbanks, Alaska
(CORRECT: Aurora Borealis are natural different colored light displays, which are usually observed in the night sky, particularly in the polar zone. The Spartans played in the University of Alaska Top of the World Classic in November.) 3 points.

4. This city in North Carolina served as the temporary capital of the Confederate States of America in from April 11-16, 1865?
NS: Greensboro
(CORRECT: The Spartans played UNC Greensboro on Nov. 24. Nick is on a roll, having answered the first four correctly.) 4 points.

5. What major league baseball team is known as the first professional baseball team, having kept a payroll since 1869?
NS: Texas. You're asking about baseball?
(Incorrect. Cincinnati Reds. Hey, cut the kid a break, he's from Germany. Upstate played at Cincinnati on Nov. 26) 4 points.

6. Salt Lake City started to grow in 1847, when what group moved West to avoid religious persecution?
NS: Mormons.
(CORRECT: Upstate played its first DI game at Utah on Nov. 9.) 5 points.

7. A fence will be constructed and completed by the end of 2008 along the border of what city that you played in?
NS: Texas, in El Paso.
(CORRECT: Along the U.S.-Mexico Border, U.S. Homeland Security officials are constructing a fence from Brownsville, Texas to El Paso. The Spartans played in the State Farm Sun Bowl Tournament on Dec. 21-22.) 6 points.

8. What legendary coach helped UT El Paso - then Texas Western, to the 1966 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship?
NS: I have no idea, I didn't watch the movie.
(Incorrect: Don Haskins would be disappointed. His 1966 Texas Western team featured the first all-African-American starting five in NCAA Tournament history and was featured in the motion picture Glory Road. Now Nick needs to close out with two right answers to tie Kelly.) 6 points.

9. Set for completion in 2010, what NFL franchise's stadium will end up costing nearly $1 billion?
NS: Dallas
(CORRECT: The new Cowboy stadium will be host to both the Cotton Bowl and the 2011 Super Bowl. The Spartans posted their first DI road win at Southern Methodist in Dallas on Dec. 18. Now, it's all on the line with the last question, can Nick tie Kelly?) 7 points.

10. What is the only school that you played that the women's team also played in non-conference action?
NS: Wake Forest
(CORRECT. Nick finishes up strong to earn the tie with Kelly, only faltering on the American sports questions!) 8 points.

So the first Upstate Basketball Quiz Challenge ends in a tie with both Dean's List students living up to their billing. Our hats are off to both Nick and Kelly, and thanks again for being such good sports.