Ohio State student makes grade for Jeopardy! College Tournament

COLUMBUS --The first week of autumn quarter classes are just ending but freshman Mark Kehres has already begun studying for perhaps the most challenging exam of his young collegiate life.

Mark has been selected to represent The Ohio State University in the 2002 Jeopardy! College Championship Oct. 5-6 in Value City Arena at The Jerome Schottenstein Center.

Kehres, a native of Livonia, Mich., majoring in humanities, was selected among the 2,000 Ohio State students who participated in auditions held yesterday at the Ohio Union.

Kehres was notified of his selection midday by WBNS-TV anchor Angela Pace and the Jeopardy! Clue Crew at Independence Hall. A full lecture hall was his audience.

A fan of the show since age 3, Kehres was both shocked and excited.

Kehres, who successfully navigated through two written tests and a mock Jeopardy! trial will compete against college students from across the country.

“I thought I did well on the test,” he said. “The standing in line for an hour and a half was worth it, obviously.”

And, despite being from Michigan, he’s already settled in as a Buckeye.

“I hope I do well and at least beat the kid from Michigan,” he said.

The show will be televised locally Nov. 11-22 on WBNS-TV, Channel 10.