1/25/03 -- For Immediate Release:
Contact:
Kerry Gibson, Public Affairs, 515-294-1405; 515-232-4336 (home)
Steve Karsjen, Science Bowl coordinator, (515) 294-5643
AMES - Cedar Rapids Washington High School came from behind in the closing seconds of the championship match to win the 2003 Ames Laboratory/Iowa State University Regional Science Bowl here Saturday. Washington defeated Central Academy of Des Moines, 40-30 in the finals and won all 10 of its matches to advance to the U.S. Department of Energy's National Science Bowl, to be held May 1-5 in Washington, D.C.
With the match clock about to expire and Central Academy holding a narrow 30-26 lead Washington team member Jeff Barnes buzzed in with the correct answer on the final toss-up question to tie the match at 30-all with no time left. That correct answer, however, gave Washington a chance to answer a 10-point bonus question. The team correctly answered the bonus to break the tie and capture its first title in the 13-year history of the regional competition.
"It was absolutely thrilling," said Washington coach Heather Adams, "just an amazing win! I've had this group since they were freshman and I'm extremely proud of the way they've worked for this. Theirs will be the first trophy to go in the new school building!"
Besides Barnes, the Washington team is comprised of Ashley Noreuil, Jake Thomas, Krystal Garringer, and Aaron McDowell. All five are seniors and while they are happy for the opportunity to travel to the nation's capital for the National Science Bowl in May, it won't be without some additional sacrifice - school prom is scheduled for the same date.
After losing Washington in the semifinals of the double-elimination tournament, the Central Academy team of Oliver Roeder, T.D. Smith, Ben Swieskowski, Karl Svec, and Sarah Wang, fought its way back into the championship with a win over Ames High School. Ames finished third with defending champion Cedar Falls High School finishing fourth in the 44-team competition.
The Ames Lab/ISU Science Bowl is one of more than 60 regional competitions throughout the nation. The competing students answered questions dealing with astronomy, biology, physics, chemistry, earth science, general science and current events in the scientific and technical community. The 16 teams that fared best in the morning rounds advanced to a double-elimination competition in the afternoon.
Approximately 90 faculty and staff members from Ames Laboratory and ISU served as moderators, judges, timekeepers and scorekeepers during the event. In addition to Ames Laboratory and Iowa State University, sponsors include HyVee, Pella, Rockwell, 3M, Hach Corporation, Anderson Erickson Dairy, and AmericInn Hotel and Suites. Since its inception, more than 80,000 high school students have participated in regional tournaments leading up to the National finals.
Ames Laboratory is operated for the Department of Energy by Iowa State University. The Lab conducts research into various areas of national concern, including energy resources, high-speed computer design, environmental cleanup and restoration, and the synthesis and study of new materials.
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Editors Note: The following teams advanced to the 16-team, double-elimination portion of the tournament, held Saturday afternoon:
Ames (Third)
South O'Brien
Dubuque Hempstead
Urbandale
Chariton
Boone
CR Washington (First)
Spencer
Waverly Shell Rock
Central Academy (Second)
Cedar Falls (Fourth)
Solon
WDM Dowling
Ankeny
R Kennedy
Humboldt
Digital images of all teams during competition are available. Please contact Kerry Gibson (kgibson@ameslab.gov) if you haven't already made prior arrangements and would like a photo of any team(s).
Last revision: 1/29/03 kbg