Puzzle-solving pair tries its luck on ‘Wheel of Fortune’

“Wheel of Fortune” enthusiasts will want to tune into the famous word puzzle game on Tuesday, Feb. 16, to see L-S Class of 2000 grad Jer Van Soelen and his wife Melanie compete for cash and prizes in a previously recorded episode.

The couple, who live in Fargo, ND, with their four-year-old son Jackson, filmed their debut on Jan. 7 in Culver City, CA. The Van Soelens have had to keep the results of the show top secret, even from family, and are anxious for everyone to witness how they fared on Feb. 16.

The Van Soelens’ journey to game-show fame started last summer when Melanie, a “Wheel of Fortune” fan since childhood, tried out during a “Wheelmobile” stop at Scheels Arena in North Dakota. Fast forward a few months and Melanie received word she made the cut for the next round of tryouts. Since the show was specifically looking for couples with children, Melanie convinced Jer to go along to the second round of tryouts held Nov. 12.

The Van Soelens joined approximately 100 other people from North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota at the Nov. 12 tryouts. There, the couple played practice rounds and had to take a written test that challenged the two Fargo teachers to solve as many partially completed puzzles as possible in five minutes. After a 30-minute break, Jer and Melanie learned they made yet another cut, now narrowed down to 35 people, and were challenged to a much more in-depth game of “Wheel of Fortune.”

Finally, on Dec. 14, the couple received the long-awaited news they had hoped for – they were chosen to be contestants on the show and were invited to a Jan. 7 film date. The Van Soelens were responsible for all of the costs involved – airfare, hotel, and meals – but as Jer said, “We felt it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we couldn’t pass up.”

Locals, be sure to tune in to channel 13 at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16, to watch Jer, the son of former Sully residents Scott and Gayla Van Soelen, and his wife Melanie take on the wheel and challenge their puzzle-solving abilities on America’s number-one TV game show, “Wheel of Fortune.”

 

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