03-01-01

By Stephen Swanson, 541-737-0789
SOURCE: Twyla Smith, 503-399-3252

MEDFORD - A team of students from South Salem High School has taken second-place honors at Oregon State University's fourth annual Salmon Bowl.

The competition, part of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl, tests oceanography knowledge. South Salem science teacher Twyla Smith coaches the team, which includes Chris Mandas, Christopher Schmokel, Peyton Babcock, Ben Johnson and Chris Symeonides.

First-place was taken by a team from South Medford High School.

OSU's Salmon Bowl was the Oregon Regional Competition of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl, which includes19 regional competitions across the nation. The OSU competition is hosted by the university's College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences.

Seventeen high school teams from across Oregon spent a recent Saturday at OSU's Salmon Bowl fielding queries about how oceans affect climate, economic well-being, history, culture and quality of life.

"It was pretty tough, they asked a lot of tough questions," said South Salem sophomore Chris Symeonides. "I originally decided to get into this because my chemistry teacher asked me. I was glad we did so well."

South Salem senior Chris Schmokel has participated in Salmon Bowl since he was a sophomore. "I'm a big fan of oceanography," Schmokel said. Unfortunately this year he had to miss the actual competition because he had to work.

"The main thing is practicing and getting all the rules down," Schmokel said.

The second-place finish earned the team $300 in scientific equipment, as well as a behind-the-scenes tour of the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport.

After taking first-place at OSU, the South Medford team will now match skills against 18 other high school teams from across the country at the national finals in Miami, March 31-April 2.

The South Medford team's regional win earned them $2,500 scholarships to the Sea Education Association's Semester at Sea program, as well as a digital camera and color computer printer for their school. Prizes for the national competition have not been announced, but past prizes have included educational trips to Lisbon, Portugal; Monterey and Catalina Island in California, the Florida Keys, cruises on research vessels, visits to oceanographic institutions and aquaria, scholarships, scientific equipment and books.

The bowl format involves a timed competition of multiple-choice or short-answer questions within the broad category of the oceans. Practice with when and how to answer questions is critical, Schmokel said.

Portland's Catlin Gabel School took third and won a color computer printer and passes to the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

Other teams included Tillamook High School; South Wasco High School; Powder Valley High School; North Marion High; Neah-Kah-Nie High; McMinnville High; McKay High; Grants Pass High; Dallas High; Crook County High; Corvallis High; Bandon High and Ashland High.

More than 100 people, businesses and organizations helped stage the event. More information on the National Ocean Sciences Bowl is available on the World Wide Web.

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