‘Goshen Genius’ Ben Ganger ’16 wins big on Jeopardy!

Ben Ganger, who graduated from Goshen College with a music major in 2016, has been shaking up the city over the last three days with his performance on the classic game show Jeopardy!

On his first episode Tuesday, Ganger knocked out the previous champion, buzzing in an impressive 36 times while answering 94% of those accurately. Ganger ran away with $24,999 — and he didn’t stop there.

Ganger handily won his matchups on Wednesday and Thursday as well, and as of Friday morning, he had won $76,415 in his three days competing — earning him the title of “the Goshen genius” from WSBT 22 and many others in Goshen.

Ganger, who works for the local manufacturer Viewrail as a data analyst, is an opera singer and member of the Camerata Singers, a local professional choral ensemble directed by Scott Hochstetler, professor of music at GC.

During Ganger’s time as a student at Goshen, he also sung under Hochstetler, who described Ganger as one of his “most successful students” musically. As a sophomore at GC, Ganger won first place in the annual National Association of Teachers of Singing Indiana state competition, and went on to earn a master’s degree in music for opera performance from Bowling Green University.

“To be honest, I was initially surprised,” Hochstetler said of Ganger’s Jeopardy! appearance. “I knew he was into trivia, but I had no idea it was to this extent. I think it shows a depth of interest and intellect, and a well-roundedness, and I think his love of knowledge was nurtured at Goshen in ways that it would not have been had he been at a different school.”

Ganger told the South Bend Tribune that his time performing opera was a massive help in his preparation for competing.

“There’s an element of staying calm under bright lights and tons of pressure that you get a taste of when you’re on stage for operas and musicals,” Ganger said. “That made being on stage at Jeopardy! at least a little more familiar of a feeling.”

Because Jeopardy! is taped weeks before it is aired, Ganger was able to attend a watch party at Goshen Brewing Company Tuesday evening for his first win. Multiple Goshen College faculty members showed up to watch the show, including Ganger’s former professor Hochstetler. Ganger has since won twice more, and will compete again Friday evening.

Jeopardy! will air locally on WSBT 22 at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays.