By Joe Bachman
Editor

“Reach right up, Pull right down, What do you get? – Hands of Brown!”

STEVENS POINT — For nearly five decades, Substation has been a team entry in what would become the world’s largest trivia contest.

Mike Rosek has been on the squad since 1989, and the long-standing team has had frequent top ten finishes up to 1998. The team has seen a lot in nearly four decades, especially the rise of technology when asked what the biggest change has been over the years.

“Absolutely, computers,” remarked Rosek. “We were playing for a long time with basically what you could remember and what you took notes on.”

Internet research has not only drastically changed the landscape of trivia, but the mechanics of the game itself, according to Rosek.

“Imagine dialing in on a rotary phone and you got to dial in as many times as you wanted to until you got the answer right or you ran out of time. Sometimes there would be 45 seconds or more that you’re just waiting to get a dial tone — the whole city’s phone system would crash out.”

Though the decades, Substation will be undoubtedly known as one of the great teams in trivia history, as the practice gets passed down through the generations. Rosek’s daughter now hosts Substation in their annual quest for trivia glory.

“We still play; we still have a good time, and we still finish in the top 50 all of the time.” said Rosek.

For more information on the world’s largest trivia contest, Trivia 5-0!, check out https://www.90fmtrivia.org/