‘What is Jeopardy!’? As highest earning contestants face off, Borderland fans flex their trivia muscle

EL PASO, Texas - In the gameshow category for $300: a timeless and treasured television show inspiring trivia fanatics for a half century.

What is 'Jeopardy!'?

As the three highest earning contestants battle for the title of 'Greatest of All Time,' Borderland trivia fanatics reflect on the role the show played in their quest for knowledge.

"Meeting Alex Trebek was completely surreal," said Katie Stone, a Silva Health Magnet High School graduate who competed on the teen tournament for Jeopardy! "He's such a legend."

Can you believe that? On the night that ABC-7 visited Alamo Drafthouse for an edition of 'Geeks Who Drink,' one of the frequent winners had actually made an appearance on the show.

"El Pasoans are smart," said Ray Carrasco, the 'Quizmaster.' To win trivia, he told ABC-7 a team needs "six smart people with varying interests. A well-rounded knowledge base where everybody brings something to the table."

"You kind of learn some of the patterns and the questions they ask," Stone told ABC-7. She makes up one sixth of the team, Six Stones Walk Into a Bar, made up of her well-rounded family members.

To test Carrasco's theory, I also chatted with one of the younger teams: Discount Baby Yoda.

"Everyone's going to know something," said Emily Zenner, a Coronado High School senior.

"I'm good at like the movies and music stuff," said Jacob Zenner, a sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin.

"Normally, people count on me for like, the historical stuff," said Katrina Schydlower, who is also a U.T. Austin sophomore.

"Not a big math person, if I'm being honest," chuckled Claire Minton, another longhorn.

When I asked who led Discount Baby Yoda, they all pointed to Luke Minton, a Harvard student majoring in applied math with a focus in economics. No surprise here: Another 'Jeopardy!' fan.

"A group of my friends, every weekday, will crowd together in the dorm and watch 'Jeopardy!' as soon as it comes on," Minton said. "We'll fight to see who can answer the most questions."

What about the science behind success? Stress can sabotage a contestant's chances for winning, according to Gerardo Rosas, the CEO of Associated Behavioral and Trauma Specialties.

"We become nervous, we start thinking about possible scenarios we may ruin," Rosas told ABC-7. "Depending on how well regulated the amygdala is, it's going to affect how much information we can actually access."

The amygdala is an "alarm system" which can perceive danger and increase stress, he said.

"It just worries bout keeping us safe," said the licensed counselor. "When we are distressed, we are unable to think. We are unable to work. At times, we are unable to function."

To access all parts of a person's memory, Rosas said a contestant must focus on staying calm and collected.

Another strategy for success? Trivia players also recommend hitting the books and studying the greats: Ken Jennings, Brad Rutter and James Holzhauer.

“They’re definitely people we look up to," said Minton.

"I bow down to them," Stone said. "They are just on a whole different level."

Maybe so, but Stone still walked away with another 'Geeks Who Drink Victory.'

"Practice makes perfect," she said with a smile.

Who will be the best of the best of the best? Between now and Jan. 16, watch ‘Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time,' airing at 7 p.m. on ABC-7.