Abbey Park HS alum Ryan Sharpe takes on Jeopardy! spotlight

Courtesy of Ryan Sharpe

For Abbey Park High School alum Ryan Sharpe, learning isn't just a pastime—it’s a driving force, an "insatiable desire to just keep knowing more and more and more."

That passion recently carried him to the world's most famous quiz stage: Jeopardy!.

His episode aired on Sept. 15, 2025. Ryan played a bold, impressive game, entering the final round with a commanding $27,600. He had successfully wagered all his winnings on both Daily Double questions he encountered. A challenging Final Jeopardy! round landed him in second place, with a final total of $21,599.

For those watching back in Oakville, Ryan’s hometown, the performance was electric.

"For me, watching Ryan compete on the Jeopardy! stage was more exciting and nerve-wracking than watching the Blue Jays compete in the World Series," said Terri Beckwith, Ryan's former teacher and quiz team staff advisor. "I wasn't surprised by his all-in wagers, because he's Ryan Sharpe. He has always been a brilliant student and strategic trivia player."

Ryan’s decision to try out for Jeopardy! stemmed from both his aptitude for trivia and what the show represents to him.

"Programmes like Jeopardy! are a great external motivation to indulge in that love of learning," Ryan said. "I see their very existence and success as a mark of a society that values truth, learning and the continued acquisition of knowledge. Those all being things I personally value a great deal, trying out to appear on Jeopardy! was a no-brainer."

Ryan was living in England when he received an invitation to compete on the show. "I actually missed the call because I was in a concert hall with my phone off,” he recalled, “but it was quite a pleasant surprise to cap off an already wonderful evening at the orchestra!"

Ryan also represented the London School of Economics on the British quiz show University Challenge. "Jeopardy! was actually my second TV quiz appearance," Ryan shared, "although—in a crazy coincidence owing to the quirks of broadcast schedules—my episodes on both shows aired on the exact same date!" His University Challenge team is scheduled for another televised appearance on Dec. 1, 2025.

Courtesy of Ryan Sharpe

Before he was testing his trivia skills on broadcast television, Ryan was building a foundation for them at Abbey Park HS.

"Mr. Stubbert’s Grade 11 American History course stands out in my mind," Ryan said, "not only for having been incredibly stimulating in its own right, but also for having provided a very solid foundation for my knowledge of U.S. history—which is probably the single category the Jeopardy! writers like to ask about the most!"

Ryan is quick to point out that his success wasn't a solo effort, highlighting the educators who went the extra mile to support his interests.

"I had too many wonderful teachers at Abbey Park to enumerate them all, but in this context I’m particularly grateful for Ms. Beckwith, Ms. Weir, Ms. Weston, Mr. Dick, Ms. Gabura and Ms. Westenberg" Ryan said, noting that they all devoted time outside of the classroom to support the academic extracurriculars he took part in.

Ms. Beckwith, who taught Ryan in Grade 9 and 12, remembers him as a standout presence in the school.

"Ryan was an endlessly curious, enthusiastic and engaged student who amazed all of us—teachers and fellow students—with the breadth of his knowledge," she said. "We learned so much from Ryan!"

One extracurricular activity most clearly foreshadowed Ryan’s future success on quiz shows.

"I without a doubt have to mention Abbey Park’s trivia club, of which I was a member for all four years of my attendance," Ryan said. "Having the opportunity to play, practice and socialize over quizzes with other like-minded students on a weekly basis was about as good a form of preparation for something like Jeopardy! as you could ask for."

According to Ms. Beckwith, Ryan’s impact on that team was undeniable. She describes him as "legendary (and feared!)" in local and provincial competitions, but she noted that his contribution went beyond just answering questions.

"Ryan's leadership skills with the team were invaluable," Ms. Beckwith said. "He confidently assumed the role of captain of the senior Reach for the Top team when he was only in Grade 11, and patiently coached and mentored new team members... The growth of the Reach team in the past few years can be directly attributed to Ryan's thoughtful, dedicated leadership."

Ryan also credited his high school experience with preparing him for the intense pressure of the show.

"There’s a lot of pressure when you’re up there on the soundstage, with bright lights shining in your face and lots of different people giving you instructions: look here! Look there! Watch your step! Don’t forget to smile!" Ryan described. "There’s a LOT happening, and it’s happening FAST."

"The way I dealt with that was pretty similar to how I’ve learned to approach writing final exams, starting in high school,” Ryan said. “I would do my best to hone in [on] the question, forcing everything else around me to melt away."

Ryan’s ability to focus was especially evident during the Nordic countries category on Jeopardy!.

"That part of Europe has long intrigued me," he said. Ryan nearly had a clean sweep of the category, coming up just short on the buzzer race for a question about Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. "I also made an all-in wager when I found a Daily Double in the category, and responded correctly, so that certainly helps in my looking back fondly on it."

Ms. Beckwith immediately recognized Ryan’s advantage at that point in the show. "When I saw the geography category, I knew I could relax a bit," she said, "because geography is Ryan's super-specialty!"

After graduating from Abbey Park HS, Ryan followed his passion for exploring the world—studying social sciences and humanities in France and at the London School of Economics.

He offers encouraging advice for any HDSB students considering joining their school’s quiz team.

"I’d definitely encourage anyone who thinks they might enjoy trivia to just give it a go," Ryan said. "I’d also emphasize that even students who are passionate about one or two subjects shouldn’t feel intimidated... it’s a team game: the beauty of it is that nobody is expected to have all the answers."

Ryan has been selected for Jeopardy! Second Chance, which is a competition that brings back notable, high-scoring contestants for another opportunity to play the game. He’ll appear in a second episode later in 2025, with the exact air date still to be announced.