D.C.’s Matthew Wilson put up a fierce fight, but only managed four right answers of nine questions in preliminary rounds during today’s National Geographic Bee. He may have been fallen to the geography gods, but Maryland’s Adam Rusak didn’t.

Starting today, 54 fourth- to eighth-graders from across the country and U.S. territories will battle it out in the National Geographic Bee. Matthew Wilson will be representing D.C. for the second time, hoping to improve on his 2010 performance.