Will Thornton Jeopardy Profile: Age, Job, Family, Stats
Find out all the Jeopardy! results for Will Thornton, including games played, scores and competitors.
Will Thornton Jeopardy Contestant Profile
Will Thornton is a teacher from Worthington, Ohio, who has gained recognition both for his work in education and for his appearance on Jeopardy!. He teaches computer technology and STEM-related subjects at Thomas Worthington High School in Columbus, Ohio. Thornton is also known for founding the school’s esports program, helping build one of the growing competitive gaming communities at the high school level in Ohio. In interviews with the school newspaper, he described esports as a rapidly expanding activity that could eventually become fully integrated into traditional high school athletics through organizations like the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA). He has emphasized the positive community aspect of esports, encouraging students to build teamwork, leadership skills, and friendships through gaming competitions.
Although Thornton was relatively new to esports when the Thomas Worthington team launched, he quickly became deeply involved in coaching and organizing the program. He scheduled matches, monitored team communication, and worked with student leaders to help develop strategy and team culture. Under his guidance, the program experienced major growth, especially within the school’s Valorant teams. Students credited the club with helping create a welcoming environment where friendships and collaboration flourished beyond school hours.
Before becoming a teacher, Thornton was an accomplished academic competitor at Little Miami High School, graduating in the Class of 2014. He served as captain of the school’s Academic Team for two years, leading the squad to consecutive SWOC championships in 2013 and 2014. He was also named SWOC Player of the Year in back-to-back years. His strong academic background and competitive knowledge base likely contributed to his later selection as a Jeopardy! contestant.
In 2026, Thornton attracted additional attention after it was announced that he would appear on Jeopardy! on May 12. Thomas Worthington students and the broader Worthington community celebrated the news enthusiastically, especially after learning he had kept the taping secret since March. Local schools also highlighted his appearance as another example of Little Miami alumni succeeding on the nationally televised quiz show.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Will Thornton |
| Location and Residence | Worthington, Ohio; works in Columbus, Ohio |
| Profession and Jobs | Teacher; Computer Technology Teacher; STEM Teacher; Esports Coach and Founder |
| Gender and Sex | Male |
| Age and Date of Birth | |
| Nationality and Ethnicity | American; White/Caucasian |
| Education and School | Little Miami High School, Class of 2014; captain of the Academic Team for two years |
| Relationships (Married/Dating/Sexuality) and Family | |
| Biography and More Details | Founded the Thomas Worthington High School esports program; coaches competitive gaming teams including Valorant; advocates for esports growth in Ohio schools; believes esports could eventually become officially sanctioned under OHSAA; helped cultivate a strong student community through gaming; led Little Miami Academic Team to back-to-back SWOC championships in 2013 and 2014; named back-to-back SWOC Player of the Year; appeared as a contestant on Jeopardy! on May 12, 2026; kept his Jeopardy! participation secret until shortly before airing; recognized by both Thomas Worthington HS and Little Miami Local Schools for his accomplishments |
Contestant Image Credit: Jeopardy Official Website
Will Thornton Jeopardy Results
| Tuesday, 12 May 2026 | Tristan Williams Originally Lincoln, Nebraska Data Scientist 4 Day Winnings of $76,199 Winning Score: $27,300 Round 2 Score: $23,700 Round 1 Score: $8,600 | Laurel Gilmer Ithaca, New York Music Events Director Final Score: $0 Round 2 Score: $4,600 Round 1 Score: $2,400 | Will Thornton Worthington, Ohio Teacher Final Score: $9,200 Round 2 Score: $9,200 Round 1 Score: $2,800 |