Newsroom

CORVALLIS, Ore. - The "A" team from Neah-Kah-Nie High School successfully defended its title at the annual Salmon Bowl competition last weekend at Oregon State University, defeating 15 other teams and earning a trip to the national competition in Monterey, Calif., in May.

The team consisted of Theo Hill, Collin McCandless, Rachel Ryan, Katy Greenwood and Cameron DuBois. Coaches for Neah-Kah-Nie were Beth Gienger and Peter Walczak.

Neah-Kah-Nie also won the 2005 competition and has won five of the past eight years, including the inaugural event. Walczak, one of the coaches, was a member of the first Neah-Kah-Nie team. He expects to complete a master's degree in marine geology later this year.

Second place went to Corvallis High School's team of Danielle White, Annette Patton, Mellissa Meitle and Madeleine Moum, coached by Brian Wake.

The team from Newport High School finished third. Team members were Megan Baker, Colin McNamara, Yuanbo Liu, Ben Waik and Dyllynn Chrichton; the coach, Jesica Haxel.

Finishing fourth was the West Salem team of Nicole James, Byron Harmon, Alex Kreitzberg and Melanie Altarask, coached by Michael Lampert.

This statewide competition was part of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl, which aims to develop the next generation of marine scientists, policy makers, educators, explorers, researchers and advocates. It is organized by the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education, a group of 85 universities and aquaria, including OSU. More information is available at: http://www.nosb.org/

Competing teams tackled questions about tsunamis, undersea earthquakes, offshore currents, fisheries, animal behavior and plate tectonics - to name just a few topics.

For more information on OSU's College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, visit the college website at: http://www.coas.oregonstate.edu/