Minnetonka Team Takes Gold at Regional Science Bowl

defeated Math and Science Academy of Woodbury to win the championship of Minnesota Academy of Science’s Minnesota State Regional Science Bowl for Middle School Students.

The competition was Feb. 11 at the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering. Congratulations to the MMW team of Nathan Steckman, Samuel Zattera, Liam Gong, Keegan Scouler and Arjun Viswanathan. The team was coached by MMW science teachers Mitchell Elvebak and Jennifer Matejka. They won a team trophy, individual medals and will represent Minnesota in the upcoming Department of Energy National Science Bowl, April 26-30, in Washington, D.C.  

Congratulations also goes to the second team from MMW for winning the Civility Award for their excellent sportsmanship and placing in the top eight. That team included Leo Segal, Christina Jones, Robbie Stemler, Sam Hebeisen and Kristine Jecha.

A total of 144 students and coaches from 24 teams representing 14 schools participated in the tournament. Teams spent months preparing for the event that features head-to-head competition in a fast-paced question and answer format similar to the TV show, Jeopardy. The students were quizzed on questions in biology, chemistry, earth and space science, energy, mathematics and physics.   

The schools competing included: Blake Middle School, COSP Homeschool-Blaine, Farnsworth Aerospace Magnet School-St. Paul, Field Community School-Minneapolis, Guardian Angels School-Chaska, Hopkins North Junior High School, Mahtomedi Middle School, Maternity of Mary-St. Andrews School-St. Paul, Math and Science Academy-St. Paul, Minnetonka Middle School West, Oak Land Junior High-Stillwater, Twin Cities Academy-St. Paul, Wayzata Central Middle School, Wayzata East Middle School.  

The Minnesota State Regional Science Bowl for Middle School Students is a program of the Minnesota Academy of Science. The Minnesota Academy of Science supports Minnesota scientists at every stage of their development, providing a vital forum for scientific inquiry and discussion that reaches thousands of Minnesotans annually. 

Standings Summary
1st Place – Minnetonka Middle School West – Minnetonka
2nd Place – Math and Science Academy – Woodbury
3rd Place – Oakland Junior High – Stillwater
Civility Award (Sportsmanship) – Minnetonka Middle School West