La Jolla High School came out on top at the National Ocean Science Bowl regional tournament at Scripps Institution of Oceanography Saturday, Feb. 24, beating 16 teams from schools spanning from Orange County to Arizona.
The tournament ” a competition that tests high school students’ knowledge of marine biology ” has been held by SIO for the last nine years and nationally for the past ten, according to Charina Layman, SIO’s public programs coordinator.
“It’s really important to us to be able to reach out to that age group and get them interested in science,” Layman said. “It’s important to make that connection with them and the grad students here at SIO. Not only are they learning science, but they are learning how to use that science in the community.”
After winning the tournament for its seventh consecutive year, La Jolla High School broke a new record when its A and B teams both made it to the finals and took first and second place at the competition, according to Lee Decker, an advanced biology and marine sciences teacher at La Jolla High School and NOSB coach.
The teams will compete in April at the national competition in Long Island, N.Y., Decker said, adding that about 27 teams from different regions of the country will participate.
“The main goal of this is to foster stewardship of our oceans on earth, and it’s very important that we have a knowledgeable populace,” Decker said. “We want to encourage careers in this field.”
Schools involved in the tournament participated throughout the school year in SIO programs to sharpen students’ knowledge, including kayaking and whale-watching field trips and mock tournament scrimmages, Layman said.
Both La Jolla High School teams, totaling 15 students, will continue to study in preparation for the national competition, Decker said. In the past, La Jolla High has placed as high as fourth in the nation.
“The students really enjoy it and there’s a sense of camaraderie,” the coach said. “This year we’re going for first.”
For more information, visit www.nosb.org.