The SHS Science Bowl team rallied to a sixth place finish at the regional championship in Storrs. From left, Niels Peschel, Joe Zavorskas, Kristen Mathew, Amisha Paul and Kate O’Reilly.
On Saturday, March 6, the Southington High School Science Bowl team placed sixth out of 41 schools at the Northeast Regional of the National Science Bowl competition at the University of Connecticut (UConn) in Storrs.
Southington, a second year team, improved on its 14th place finish last year.
Launched in 1991, the National Science Bowl is a highly competitive science education and academic event among teams of high school students who compete in a fast-paced verbal forum to solve technical problems and answer questions in all branches of science and math.
Each team is composed of four students, one alternate student, and a coach. Southington’s team was comprised of seniors Niels Peschel and Joe Zavorskas; junior Kristen Mathew; and sophomores Amisha Paul (captain) and Kate O’Reilly.
The competition is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, and the regional event is hosted by the UConn School of Engineering.
The Blue Knights went 3-1-1 in the qualifying round before capturing three more wins in the double elimination championship to finish 6-3-1 overall. Two of Southington’s three losses came to E.O. Smith High School, which finished third in last year’s National Science Bowl competition.
Southington’s signature victory was a 44-42 come-from-behind win over fourth-seeded Conard in a championship round elimination match when officials asked the final question to decide the match, “Which country produces the greatest carbon emissions?”
The Knights correctly answered “China,” and Conard was eliminated.