Montezuma teacher earns a spot on Wheel of Fortune

     Kevin Gartman, a business teacher and cross country coach at Montezuma High School, fulfilled a life dream when he became a contest on Wheel of Fortune. Gartman taped the show in Culver City, Calif. on Jan. 23 with the episode airing on March 3. He won the show with $25,000, top prize, which included a trip to Panama. 

By J.O. Parker
 
       A Montezuma High School teacher and cross country coach recently enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime experience winning $25,000, which included a trip to Panama, in the process.
       Kevin Gartman, who has taught business courses and coached at Montezuma for 10-years, was recently a contestant on the popular Wheel of Fortune show, which aired nationally on March 3.
       Gartman said it all came about while watching the season final of The Floor in late spring or early summer last year. The Floor is a trivia show where 100 competitors duel in different topics to win a cash prize.
       “I thought to myself, I’d love to get on there,” said Gartman. “I applied for The Floor, and then thought to myself – hmm…I wonder what other shows I could try and apply for?”
       “There was certainly an element of "I'd love to find another source of cash" but also a "I'd love to prove to myself that I could go on there and do well,” said Gartman.
      Gartman has shared on social media in the past that having family dinners was really important growing up and his family often transitioned from the dinner table to the living room to watch Wheel of Fortune together.
         “Any time I would go visit my grandparents in northern Iowa or Wisconsin, watching game shows while spending time together was certainly a part of the fun, so there's a nostalgic element as well,” said Gartman. “I know my grandparents would be so excited right now, telling all of their friends all about it.”
         Gartman applied to be on Wheel of Fortune in the fall and a few weeks after submitting his contestant application, he had a Zoom interview that was a short, personality-driven interview designed to gauge energy and appeal on screen.
      “I then had two more puzzle-solving interviews after that, one solo and one with other contestants on the Zoom, where we'd solve either toss-up style puzzles as fast as we could (before others) or see how many of a series of puzzles we could solve in a set time,” noted Gartman. “A few days after those interviews were completed, I was informed that I was entered in the contestant pool for the next filming season, and that while there was no guarantee that I would be on - they would be pulling from the pool to fill all the slots.”
       In mid-December, Gartman received an email about the possibility of being a fit for the Jan. 23 film date, but not to book anything yet.
       About two weeks before that date, “I got the email saying I was finalized to be on the show and the filming date was set for Jan. 23,” he said.
       He and his wife, Kelli, an art teacher at BGM, flew to Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, Calif.
        The couple had to cover all their expenses from flights, hotel and ground transportation.
        “In my head going in, I knew around where my breakeven point would be (after taxes), so I was really working to hit that,” Gartman said. “A cool experience regardless, but you don't want to lose money trying to win money on a show. I was fortunate enough to end up profitable!”
        When asked what his favorite thing about being on the show was, Gartman said just like at home, when you solve the puzzle quickly and feel proud of yourself for having it click for you before others, it was that same sort of feeling – “I KNOW IT” but on steroids because you’re playing for real money.
       “There is nothing like choosing to intentionally spend $250 on a vowel in real life, even though it seems like throwaway money in the game - that's 250 real dollars,” recalled Gartman. “It was kind of a dream in that sense - like playing a game of Monopoly where the money is real, you have to make decisions in a hurry that have greater consequences than from the couch. I enjoyed that pressure, though my puzzled face may not have shown it.”
          Gartman said actual taping didn't take too much longer than what you see on TV.
“The commercial breaks you have at home are the same slots we would break during filming for them to switch out wedges on the wheel, take a sip of water, and get us back to our places,” noted Gartman.
        The day itself started at about 6:30 a.m. Gartman said the first order of business was meeting with the legal team. After that, he visited hair and makeup, went through a practice introduction, and practice round. He learned the specific rules on spinning the wheel and was informed of any unique parts of gameplay.
          "Six episodes were filmed that day,” said Gartman. “I was episode 2/6, with a lunch break after episode 3 around 2 p.m.. It was a full and fun day.”
          When asked about meeting Vanna and Ryan, Gartman said he knew it’s their job to put on a smiling face and be personable, but they truly did feel personable in the ways each interacted with me individually and with the audience.
       “Vanna had gotten married the weekend prior, and this was the first taping since the wedding, so there was lots of audience conversation about the wedding,” noted Gartman. 
         Ryan mentioned on air at the end of the show that Gartman doesn’t care for mustard or ketchup. Vanna joined in on the fun and the studio provided some sliders with mustard and ketchup dipping sauce and encouraged Gartman to try the condiments.
          He suffered through it and said it was OK.
        “Even after the show ended, I got to eat another set of sliders with them both once the camera cut off which was a cool experience that you don't often get to see, especially if you don't win the bonus round.”
         Gartman’s children, Coy, 3, and Clay, 1, were not able to make the trip to California. When asked about their thoughts, Gartman said Coy was excited to see me on there and enjoyed celebrating the victory – “I won,” he shouted.
         “He's not quite old enough to appreciate the fullness of the shoutout from Ryan on air, but he will someday,” said Gartman. “Clay, 1, was confused as to how I was on the TV and also in the room with him. He eventually gave up on that question and did his own thing.”
         Gartman said children have to be at least 8 years old to be in the audience, which is the age producers deem is old enough to sit quietly and not blurt out answers to ruin a round.
When asked about eating ketchup and mustard since the show airing, Gartman said he has neutral opinions on both condiments.
        “I didn't like either enough to need it on the food, but I wouldn't wipe it off either if it came put on,” he said. “They were both fine.”
          When asked if he’d do it again, Gartman said “Absolutely.”
         “They don't bring contestants back to participate again, but I think the show plays into my strengths and I wish it was like Jeopardy where the champion could return and keep playing until they lose,” said Gartman. “I think I would come.”
        “I've been very appreciative of how supportive Montezuma has been as a town - everyone has been so friendly and excited to support me, and I believe that regardless of how well I would have done. There's a small town perk in that, which I don't believe would be the case in bigger cities,” he said. “Thanks to all who have been so kind!”