Jeopardy! fans go wild as former champs have emotional reunion 30 years after first meeting in school
JEOPARDY! contestants have met up 30 years later after first meeting in school.
Fans of the show have gone wild over the emotional reunion.
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Maryann Campbell and Ilena Di Toro both competed on Jeopardy!– although many years apart.
But, they have a connection that is deeper than the game show.
Maryann, now retired, was Ilena’s teacher at Archbishop Ryan High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The retired history teacher was a one-time champion in 1994.
Ilena just appeared on Jeopardy! this year and was also a one-time champion.
She made a special shout-out to her teacher on her second appearance.
“Yes, my high school history teacher, Maryann Campbell, was a contestant on Jeopardy in the 1990s,” Ilena told host, Ken Jennings.
EMOTIONAL REUNION
Now, the two Jeopardy! contestants have reunited years later.
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They have not seen each other since Ilena’s graduation in 1988.
“I was on my sofa, watching like I do every night with my glass of wine in my hand. And I was just absolutely shocked,” Maryann said, while sitting in a classroom at her old job.
Hearing Ilena give her a shoutout on TV made her almost drop her wine glass, according to 6ABC Action News.
She couldn’t believe that a student remembered her appearance on the show nearly 30 years later.
“For any of them to remember me and to be inspired by what I said to them is an honor. It’s an absolute honor.”
In the end, Maryann and Ilena agreed that it would be fun to appear on Jeopardy! again, but as a team.
Mary shared her daughter was also on the show, so the three of them could go on and be “Mary’s Angels.”
‘THAT’S SO COOL!’
Jeopardy! fans flocked to Reddit after the video was posted to comment on the sweet reunion.
“Awww. That was really wholesome,” one fan wrote.
“Cute video. Loved watching her as a contestant,” said another.
A third added: “Mrs. Campbell’s daughter too? That’s so cool!”
A YouTube user said: “Wow! I didn’t know they were good friends.”
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