Winners & Prizes

“I swear to God, if Sudoku shows up…”
– Winning Caption by Matt Savoca of the Dr. Mayhem team

2022 WINNERS & TIMES

Easier – Team: Cross Contamination (1:01:18)
Easier – Individual: Cheryl Kochavi (22:56)

Trickier – Team: Tax Team (45:38)
Trickier – Individual: Judy Cole (25:10)

Toughest – Team: Team Smaiblers (21:28)
Toughest – Individual: Matt McCurry (19:23)

PERFECT PUZZLES

2022 PUZZLES & ANSWERS

Toughest Puzzles:	Trickier Puzzles:	Easier Puzzles:
“Cast Aspersions” Puzzle	“Spy Ware” Puzzle	“Space Balls” Puzzle
“Cast Aspersions” Answers	“Spy Ware” Answers	“Space Balls” Answers

“Not Exactly a Page Turner” Puzzle	“With Ease” Puzzle	“Rainbow Coalition” Puzzle
“Not Exactly a Page Turner” Answers	“With Ease” Answers	“Rainbow Coalition” Answers

“Excelsior” Puzzle	“Cast Aspersions” Puzzle	“Spy Ware” Puzzle
“Excelsior” Answers	“Cast Aspersions” Answer	“Spy Ware” Answers

PRIZES

All winners will receive the following:

Priceless bragging rights.
A copy of Merl Reagle’s Sunday Crosswords, Volume 11.
Personalized Winner’s Certificates, suitable for framing.
The unique, highly coveted, and tasteful Finger Lakes Crossword Champ Bracelet … not to be confused with the ostentatious World Series of Poker Champ bracelet (pictured here).
Winners’ names will be inscribed on a brass winners’ plaque permanently on display in the Tompkins Learning Partners office.
All players who complete three perfect puzzles within the competition time period will receive a Perfect Puzzle Certificate, suitable for framing.

TASTEFUL PRIZE

NOT THE PRIZE

Past Winners

2021	2020	2019	2018
TEAMS Toughest: Team Smaiblers Trickier: Tax Team Easier: Two Amigos INDIVIDUALS Toughest: Robert White Trickier: Ted Boscia Easier: Janet Klein	TEAMS Toughest: Team Smaiblers Trickier: Plymouth “The Rock” Johnson Easier: Team Backii INDIVIDUALS Toughest: Jacob Lehman Trickier: Leigh Keeley Easier: Jordon Campo	TEAMS Toughest: Biblioteca Gonna Wreck Ya Trickier: Greenhill Easier: Ten CCs of TC INDIVIDUALS Toughest: Jesse Lansner Trickier: Ted Boscia Easier: Wendy Cameron	TEAMS Toughest: The Best of the Wordz Trickier: Candace75 Easier: Two Schlepps INDIVIDUALS Toughest: Jesse Lansner Trickier: Ted Boscia Easier: Michaela Schied

2017	2016	2015	2014
TEAMS Toughest: Defending Champs Trickier: Cinnamon Challenge Easier: Annabel Thompson Fan Club INDIVIDUALS Toughest: Jacob Lehman Trickier: James Perry Easier: Emily Kadish	TEAMS Toughest: Defending Champs Trickier: The Sweet Potatoes Easier: Chemung Canal Crossword Crew INDIVIDUALS Toughest: Jacob Lehman Trickier: Diane Colman Easier: Bhuvanesh Sundar	TEAMS Toughest: Hot Cross Brains Trickier: Mart-Feld Easier: Trojan Horse INDIVIDUALS Toughest: Jennifer Turney Trickier: Joel Johnson Easier: Sam Peters	TEAMS Toughest: Uphoff’s Trickier: Frank/McCollister Easier: Les Quiserables INDIVIDUALS Toughest: Robert White Trickier: Leslie Kinsland Easier: Barbara Logan

2013
TEAMS Advanced: CHUMs Serious: DeWitt Mall Rats Casual: Warren Wordsmiths INDIVIDUALS Advanced: Henry Peterson Serious: Michael Matsuda Casual: Nicole Arocho