Marshfield is virtually dead-center in Wisconsin and just about in the middle of the continental U.S. Despite being hundreds of miles from saltwater, the city produces some pretty briny kids.
That fact was again apparent at the 2011 National Ocean Sciences Bowl in Galveston, Texas, where the Marshfield High School team captured the national crown for the third year in a row. The two-day competition ended Sunday. It’s beginning to look like a dynasty.
The five youngsters bested 23 other schools, many in sea-coastal states. The team lost only one match. That came early in the overall competition, during the third round of the five-round “round robin” matches. Marshfield was seeded sixth going into the double elimination, and never lost a game throughout that portion of the competition. The final match was won against the team from Lexington High School in Massachusetts.
Competition between the two teams was intense, but also very friendly said Jim Lubner. Lubner is the Wisconsin Sea Grant education coordinator and accompanied the team and its coach, Paul Herder, to the competition.
Wisconsin Sea Grant provides financial and personnel support for the 10-year-old Lake Sturgeon Bowl. That state competition is the qualifying arena for the national competition and is held in February in Milwaukee.
After Sunday’s victory, Lubner said, “I was extremely proud of how these fine young people, from both teams, conducted themselves. Every time I attend one of these competitions I am reminded of how bright our future will be if these young people are able to realize their potential as leaders in a diversity of fields.”
First prize for the winning team includes a week-long trip to Puerto Rico this summer, with a visit to the El Junque rain forest and nighttime kayaking on a bioluminescent lagoon and a variety of other activities. Plans for individual Marshfield team members are not completely solidified, although most are likely to participate, with the exception of one student will be studying in China during the scheduled time of the trip.
The National Ocean Sciences Bowl is in its 14th year. It is managed by the Consortium for Ocean Leadership, representing leading oceanographic institutions, universities and aquaria. The competition features questions that build marine and coastal literacy, and includes the fields of chemistry, biology, social sciences, mathematics, physics, geography and ocean-related technology, such as sonar.
