Auburn, Al.
The third time was unfortunately not the charm for two-time defending “Jeopardy!” champion Sunny Stalter-Pace.
The assistant professor in the English Department at Auburn University dropped a close match to newcomer Evan Sandman during Monday’s airing of the trivia show.
Stalter-Pace, 34, began Monday’s “Jeopardy!” episode strong, doing well in categories that included seashells, texting and TV personalities. She headed into the Double Jeopardy round ahead of Sandman and a third contestant, Gina Harris, but Sandman pulled ahead of Stalter-Pace after responding correctly to a Daily Double clue.
“Daily Doubles can be hit or miss,” Stalter-Pace said. “The people who landed on them on Friday ended up betting big and losing, but Evan bet big and won, and I think that really made the difference.
“Evan played a really good game and was definitely a good victor.”
Stalter-Pace responded correctly in Final Jeopardy with the question “What are communists?” The clue was: “In this sense, the theory of this group may be summed up in the single sentence; abolition of private property.”
She wagered all she had, finishing with $28,400. Sandman’s Final Jeopardy wager earned him a narrow victory with $28,801, making him the new champion.
Still, Stalter-Pace said she’s proud of her run, as well as the support she’s received from those in the Auburn community.
“I just feel so incredibly lucky to get to be on,” Stalter-Pace said, who didn’t watch Monday’s show, which was taped this summer.
“I had to show a movie for my graduate class, so it a good excuse not to watch,” laughed Stalter-Pace, whose two-day winning totals were $36,200. Stalter-Pace received an additional $2,000 for her second-place finish Monday.
Stalter-Pace, who recently married husband Paul, hasn’t decided what she plans to do with her “Jeopardy!” winnings yet.
“We are newlyweds and we’re looking forward to having a baby sometime in the future, but as with all academics, student loans are definitely the first thing you have to pay down,” said Stalter-Pace, who looks forward to sharing the “Jeopardy!” experience with children someday. “We’ll see if we can’t get our kids on ‘Kids Jeopardy!’ or the “Jeopardy!” teen tournament or something.”
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