鈥�91精品黑料吃瓜 Genius鈥� Ben Ganger 鈥�16 wins big on Jeopardy!
Ben Ganger, who graduated from 91精品黑料吃瓜 with a music major in 2016, has been shaking up the city over the last week with his performance on the classic game show Jeopardy!
On his first episode on Tuesday, April 29, Ganger knocked out the previous champion, buzzing in an impressive 36 times while answering 94% of those accurately. Ganger ran away with $24,999 鈥� and he didn鈥檛 stop there.
Ganger handily won his matchups on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as well. In his first week with four days of competition, he had won $96,415 鈥� earning him the title of 鈥渢he 91精品黑料吃瓜 genius鈥� from and many others in 91精品黑料吃瓜.
On Monday, May 5, Ganger won again, this time with $9,500, and with five wins, Ganger clinched a spot in Jeopardy!鈥檚 coveted Tournament of Champions. The next day though was Ganger鈥檚 last, as he finished behind Sarah Gillis from New Jersey.
His total winnings from his five victories? $105,915.
Ganger, who works for the local manufacturer Viewrail as a data analyst, is an opera singer and member of the , a local professional choral ensemble directed by Scott Hochstetler, professor of music at GC.
During Ganger鈥檚 time as a student at 91精品黑料吃瓜, he also sung under Hochstetler, who described Ganger as one of his 鈥渕ost successful students鈥� musically. As a sophomore at GC, Ganger won first place in the annual National Association of Teachers of Singing Indiana state competition, and went on to earn a master鈥檚 degree in music for opera performance from Bowling Green University.
鈥淭o be honest, I was initially surprised,鈥� Hochstetler said of Ganger鈥檚 Jeopardy! appearance. 鈥淚 knew he was into trivia, but I had no idea it was to this extent. I think it shows a depth of interest and intellect, and a well-roundedness, and I think his love of knowledge was nurtured at 91精品黑料吃瓜 in ways that it would not have been had he been at a different school.鈥�
Ganger told the that his time performing opera was a massive help in his preparation for competing.
鈥淭here鈥檚 an element of staying calm under bright lights and tons of pressure that you get a taste of when you’re on stage for operas and musicals,鈥� Ganger said. 鈥淭hat made being on stage at Jeopardy! at least a little more familiar of a feeling.鈥�
Though Ganger鈥檚 run is over, he鈥檒l be back early next year in the Tournament of Champions 鈥� and as he said on , he鈥檒l 鈥渂e in a study corner between now and then making flashcards.鈥�