For the second year in a row, a Malad Middle School Science Bowl Team won the INL-sponsored Eastern Idaho Regional Middle School Science Bowl Competition, making the team eligible to go to Washington, DC, for the national competition on April 30-May 4.  On Friday, March 6, the two teams representing Malad Middle School traveled to University Place in Idaho Falls to test their knowledge of math and science against that of 11 other middle school teams in eastern Idaho.

The students on the winning team are Bentley Teeples (captain), Jacob Pickett, Liam Akinson, Karmyn Charles, and Rose Butler. Their advisers are Kathy Atkinson and Tia Talbot, math and science teachers at Malad Middle School. Each team must have four members, an alternate, and a teacher who serves as adviser and coach.

The second Malad team was comprised of Eva Coleman, Luke Schow, Keith Hamilton, Dot Teeples, and Mariah Kronvall.  Logan Wayment and Seth Huckaby were alternates for Team 1, and Caroline Butler and McKinley Broderick were alternates for Team 2.

Most of the other teams were from schools located in communities larger than Malad. The other teams included one team from Alpine Academy of Chubbuck, and two teams each from Blackfoot Charter School, Idaho Science and Technology Charter School of Blackfoot, Mountain View Middle School of Blackfoot, Teton Middle School of Driggs, and Vera O’Leary Middle School of Twin Falls.

In the first round, Malad’s Team 1 lost to ISTCS (70-75), beat Blackfoot Charter (80-10), and then lost to Teton (40-50). After pool play concluded, there was a 3-way tie for the chance to advance to the championship round. Malad Team 1 had the greatest number of total points (190) and so advanced to the “champion of champions” round. 

In the “champion of champions” round, Malad Team 1 first beat Mountain View 1 (145-10), then Alpine Academy (80-70), and finally Vera O’Leary 1 (135-55). 

The two Malad Middle School teams have studied and practiced four days a week since school started, using a new buzzer system that helped the students learn how to ring in quickly with the right answers to questions on a wide range of science disciplines, including biology, chemistry, Earth science, physics, energy, and math.

At the awards ceremony, ten All-Region Team medals were awarded to team members selected by the quiz masters, judges, and timekeepers as contributing the most to their teams. Bentley Teeples and Eva Coleman of the Malad teams received All-Region Team medals.

According to Harriet Kung, Deputy Director for Science Programs in the official press release from the U.S. Department of Energy, “For 36 years, the National Science Bowl has challenged students to think boldly, collaborate under pressure, and push the boundaries of their scientific knowledge, Congratulations to the Malad Middle School team on advancing to the National Finals! This achievement reflects your hard work, dedication and talent and I wish you continued success as you advance to compete for the national title.”

Winning teams from 45 middle school and 68 high school regional competitions will compete in the National Science Bowl Finals. One middle school (Malad) and two high school teams from Idaho will compete this year. The top two middle and high school teams will win $5000 for their schools’ math and science departments.  Other schools that place in the top 16 will win $1000 for their schools’ science departments. Along with the competitions, the national event includes science activities and sightseeing.

The Department of Energy Office of Science manages the National Science Bowl and sponsors the finals competition, including paying all expenses for the teams to travel to Washington, DC.