A teacher from Chaska is already a winner even before he battles it out with teachers from around the nation Thursday on "Jeopardy."

Peter Buchholz, a sixth-grade U.S. history and language arts teacher at Chaska Middle School West, will compete against 15 others to win $100,000 in the quiz show's teachers tournament.

All the participants get a $2,500 grant from Farmers Insurance for their classrooms. Buchholz plans on spending the $2,500 on tables and chairs that would make his classroom's work spaces more comfortable and personalized.

He said his students are excited to see him compete.

"A lot of them tell me that their grandmas are also very excited to watch. … It's kind of been my joke," he said Wednesday. "There are so many grandmas, mine included, that are very excited to watch me tomorrow."

Buchholz will be watching the episode with a group of sixth-grade teachers from his school. The school will also host a watch party for students.

"Jeopardy" airs at 3:30 p.m. on KARE-TV, Channel 11.

Beatrice Dupuy