Mark Japinga '09 loses in final round of 'Jeopardy!', four day winning streak ends

The winning streak is over for Hollander Mark Japinga. He lost "Jeopardy!" on Wednesday — his fifth appearance on the show — betting all he had but missing the Final Jeopardy question.

"I'm slightly annoyed that I missed a sports question," Japinga joked. "I would have won had I gotten it right, but it was worded weird, and I froze."

Wednesday's game was much different than Tuesday's. On Tuesday, Japinga started strong and virtually controlled the fast pace of the game, his preferred method for playing. But Wednesday there were several misses from all the contestants, and the pace was slower.

"It wasn't a particularly good board for me; the categories weren't to my liking," Japinga said. "It shows the difference between knowing the things and having a good rhythm."

Japinga will receive a total of $113,600 for his performance. Much of the winnings will be invested in his future, he said, adding he's doing well financially and didn't have a real need for the money. He might go to graduate school.

"I'm pretty boring," he joked. "It's surreal they'll be paying me this much money for the little work I did."

He does hope to take one trip. Although he's not sure he can work it out, his preferred destination is Brazil for the World Cup. But if that falls through, he'll plan a once-in-a-lifetime trip elsewhere, saying he has lots of time to decide.

Japinga, whose winning streak started Thursday against an eight-day champion, is a 2005 graduate of Holland High School. He earned his degree in political science at Grinnell College in Iowa and now lives in Washington, D.C., and works as a legislative researcher for Stateside Associates in Alexandria, Va. His parents, Jeff and Lynn Japinga, and some extended family still live in Holland.

"I went so far beyond my expectations. My goal was to win one game," Japinga said. "It was a great run."

• Holland Sentinel, "Holland High School grad, Mark Japinga, a contestant on 'Jeopardy!'." July 8, 2013.
• Holland Sentinel, "Holland native Mark Japinga wins again on popular quiz show 'Jeopardy!'." July 12, 2013.
• Holland Sentinel, "Mark Japinga on a roll on 'Jeopardy!'." July 16, 2013