Mound Westonka High School's Joe Vertnick Advances to Semifinals of Jeopardy! Teen Tourney

Update: Feb. 5, 9:30 p.m.— Joe Vertnick's $20,000 final tally during Tuesday afternoon's airing was good enough to earn one of four wildcard entries to the 2013 Jeopardy! Teen Challenge. The tournament continues through Feb. 12. Stay tuned for updates.

Editor's note: All contestants in the 2013 Jeopardy! Teen Challenge are guaranteed $5,000—with semifinalists receiving $10,000. Third-place receives $15,000; second place receives $25,000 and the top finisher receives $75,000.

By Lorrie Ham

(originally posted November 2012)

After seven years of trying, Mound Westonka High School senior Joe Vertnik was chosen recently to compete in the “Jeopardy! Teen Tournament."

“It was a long time coming, but I am extremely privileged to get the chance to compete,” Vertnik said.

Vertnik and his parents, Steve and Debbie, will fly to Los Angeles tomorrow, Nov. 17, where Joe will have the opportunity to compete for a top prize of $75,000 during taping of the two-week tournament.

The 17-year-old senior first attempted the online test which begins the application process as an 11-year-old, in the kids’ division. He has taken the online test every year since, but this year did well enough online in April that he was invited to a live audition on Sept. 9. Vertnik auditioned in Chicago, one of five cities to hold auditions for the competition that day.

Nearly 10,000 students took the initial online test for the competition. Several hundred were invited to live auditions, and 15 contestants were eventually chosen for the tournament. Vertnik’s mom, Deb, got the call Oct. 22 at work saying that Joe had been selected. Another metro area teen, Lila Anderson of Plymouth’s Providence Academy, was also chosen for the tournament.

Things are really going Vertnik’s way.

In September, he won a new car through the Celebrate My Drive promotion which focused on safe teen driving. Then he auditioned for and got a part in his first high school musical last month.

“I’m really happy,” he said. “So far it’s been a great senior year!”

The “Jeopardy!” Teen Tournament, hosted by Alex Trebek, will air in January 2013.