Emily LaMonica, now a freshman at Ramapo College, made two very risky bets on 'Jeopardy' Thursday night
Sayreville's Emily LaMonica, a 2016 graduate of the Marine Academy of Science & Technology in Highlands, risked it all -- twice -- on the "Jeopardy!" Teen Tournament semifinals Thursday night, but it didn't pay off in the end.
Though LaMonica, now a freshman at Ramapo College of New Jersey, dominated her quarterfinal round last week, winning $23,201, she trailed competitor Alec Fischthal of North Woodmere, N.Y., throughout the Jeopardy round. She finished the first round with $5,200 compared to Fischthal's $11,200. (The third competitor, Connor Pierce from Dallas, had $1,000.)
In Double Jeopardy, she lost $3,000 on a Daily Double and it seemed she wouldn't be able to catch up to Fischtal, but then LaMonica turned over the second Daily Double. With $8,600, exactly half of Fischtal's $17,200, she risked everything and answered correctly, tying the game. Fischthal pulled ahead by $2,000 before the end of the round.
The Final Jeopardy category was Famous Buildings: "Completed in 1943, this 'City Within a City' has outer walls over 900 feet long." All three got it wrong (offer up your answer in the comments below) and LaMonica, who had bet everything again, ended with nothing. Pierce finished with $2,000, and Fischthal won with $3,999. He goes on to compete for the $100,000 grand prize.
For more information on how to become a contestant (teen, college student or adult) on "Jeopardy" and to take a practice test, go the "Jeopardy" website here.
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