In a testament to Notre Dame’s lively tradition of academic competitions, the sixth annual EuroCup trivia night brought out the best and brightest for an evening of high stakes and lighthearted rivalry. This year’s event saw Duncan Hall’s ‘Rasputin Rizzlers’ claim the top spot, while Knott Hall’s ‘Oktoberfest’ found themselves at the bottom of the scoreboard.
EuroCup featured 10 teams representing various residence halls. Each team, consisting of three to five players, tackled categories that ranged from European history and current events to geography, art and more. With 45 seconds allotted per question, the tension was evident as teams scribbled down answers and rushed to hand in their responses.
The competition was structured into six rounds, each with five questions except for the final round, which featured four. Most answers were worth two points, but a few bonus questions offered additional opportunities to score big. The bonus round centered on questions about Ukraine and Slovakia, where each correct answer was worth three points — crucial for teams hoping to edge ahead.
The event’s emcee announced scores after key points in the night, building suspense leading into the final tally. Despite strong showings from teams like the ‘EuroVisionaries’ of Siegfried Hall, who garnered bonus points for their name, only one team could claim victory.
Sophomore Jack Knorr, who participated in Morrissey Manor's ‘Manorite Grand Prix,’ reflected on his team's preparation.
“Basically, my friends and I had fun playing trivia games in our lounge, and we thought we’d try our luck. Did we study much? No, not really,” Knorr said.
Junior Mirella Wunderlich from Ryan Hall and her friends from Badin Hall formed the night’s only all-girl team out of 10 teams, aptly named ‘Serving in Europe.’ Despite having minimal preparation, Wunderlich expressed confidence.
“This is what Notre Dame is all about, trying new experiences regardless of the outcome,” Wunderlich said.
With a competitive edge and balanced expertise in history and geography, the ‘Rasputin Rizzlers’ of Duncan Hall took first place with 76 points. Their performance in the bonus round secured the win, cementing their position as trivia champions. Knott Hall’s ‘Oktoberfest,’ finished in 10th place with 40 points.
In one humorous moment, team ‘Oh Crêpe’ guessed Da Sound Machine, the fictional a capella group from “Pitch Perfect 2,” for a question about a German band known for popularizing electronic music. The correct answer was Kraftwerk, formed in Düsseldorf in 1970.
Prizes were distributed to winners and participants, including mugs, candy and maps. The much-anticipated mini trophy drew laughs when it was revealed to have been made in China — an ironic twist for a European-themed event.
