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Catholic High School takes top spot in 2020 Blue Crab Bowl

  • 1st Place: Catholic High School
    1st Place: Catholic High School   Coached by science teachers Dr. Carol Stapanowich (far R) and Jennifer McMullen (far L), team members included (L-R): Robert Cajes; Andrew Michalak; Jacob Bovatsek; Team Captain Matt Mytych; and Brandon Ly. Catholic High received their team trophy from Representative Elaine Luria of Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District (3rd from L), special guest and awards presenter for the 2020 Blue Crab Bowl.   © A. Devlin, Virginia Sea Grant.
  • 2nd Place: Seton School
    2nd Place: Seton School   Tricia Kellogg and Hank Konstanty (2nd & 3rd from L) served as Coaches for the team, including (L-R): Joseph Dealey; Team Co-Captain Liam Kellogg; Team Co-Captain Victoria Baker; John Konstanty; and Lydia O'Keefe. Seton School received their team trophy from Representative Elaine Luria of Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District (far L), special guest and awards presenter.   © T. Whitfield, ODU.
  • 3rd Place: Norfolk Collegiate School – Team A
    3rd Place: Norfolk Collegiate School – Team A   Coached by science teacher Dr. Frank Thomson (C), team members included (L-R): Kendra Honey; Libby Snowden; Carson Giocondo, Coach Thomson; Emily Scott; and Team Captain Braeden Thomson. Norfolk Collegiate received their team trophy from Representative Elaine Luria of Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District (far R), special guest and awards presenter for the 2020 Blue Crab Bowl.   © T.Whitfield, ODU.
  • 4th Place: Churchland High School
    4th Place: Churchland High School   Coached by science teacher Cami Field (C), team members included: Jennifer Reza, Malissa Whitehead, Team Captain Felix Radford, Coach Field; Ke’Shon Kellogg (behind); Gabrielle Smalls (in front). Churchland received their team trophy from Representative Elaine Luria of Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District (far R), special guest and awards presenter for the 2020 Blue Crab Bowl.   © T.Whitfield, ODU.
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by Staff |  February 25, 2020
Top science students from Virginia compete in 23rd-annual regional ocean science bowl

Catholic High School of Virginia Beach reeled in the top spot during the 23rd-annual Blue Crab Bowl at Old Dominion University’s Higher Education Center on February 8th. Runner-up in a close contest was Seton School from Manassas, while Norfolk Collegiate School (Team A) took third and Churchland High School from Portsmouth took fourth in another intense competition.

The Blue Crab Bowl is the Virginia regional competition of the National Ocean Science Bowl (NOSB©), an annual academic contest to test knowledge of the oceans among high-school students. Catholic High School will move on to represent the Commonwealth at the National Ocean Science Bowl on April 16-19 in Long Beach/Gulfport, Mississippi. The theme of the 2020 Bowl and its regional competitions is Understanding Human, Economic and Environmental Resiliency in the Gulf of Mexico.

This year’s Blue Crab Bowl pitted 16 teams representing 14 Virginia high schools from across the Commonwealth. Competing with the top-four finishers were teams from Broadwater Academy (Exmore), Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School (Glenns and Warsaw Campuses), Cosby High School (Midlothian), Fauquier High School (Warrenton), Governor’s School for Science & Technology – New Horizons (Hampton), Isle of Wight Academy, Landstown High School (Virginia Beach), Maury High School (Norfolk), Norfolk Collegiate School (Team B), Patrick Henry High School (Ashland) and York High School (Yorktown).

Virginia 2nd District Representative Elaine Luria chats with Carol Hopper-Brill during the 2020 Blue Crab Bowl. © Aileen Devlin | Virginia Sea GrantDr. Carol Hopper-Brill, the event organizer at VIMS, says the day “included both round-robin and double-elimination contests, and the competitors—70 students in all—vied in more than 45 contests encompassing 10 rounds."

At the end of the long and grueling day, all teams were recognized during the Awards Ceremony by Representative Elaine Luria from Virginia’s 2nd  Congressional District. She congratulated the students, applauded their accomplishments, and encouraged them to continue their studies in interdisciplinary STEM subjects. Awards—including custom-made “crab bowl” trophies for the top four teams—were presented by Representative Luria, Dr. Fred Dobbs of ODU's Department of Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, and Dr. David Rudders representing VIMS’ Marine Advisory Program.  Representative Luria congratulates winning teams during the 2020 Blue Crab Bowl. © Aileen Devlin | Virginia Sea Grant. All students received prizes and coaches received science-teaching resources and a membership in the Mid-Atlantic Marine Education Association.

The Blue Crab Bowl is a cooperative effort between VIMS, William & Mary, and ODU’s Department of Ocean, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, with the annual competition alternating between the two venues. More than 70 scientists, including faculty, graduate students, and staff from both institutions, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and other organizations donated many hours of their time to ensure the success of this year’s event.

Virginia’s Blue Crab Bowl was among the inaugural NOSB competitions in 1998. To date, the Blue Crab Bowl has involved 1,850 of the Commonwealth’s brightest science students from 58 public and private schools across Virginia. Hopper-Brill says, “Using questions designed by marine scientists and educators, the contest tests students’ knowledge of oceanography, geology, biology, maritime history, and policy. The Bowl provides a forum for students who excel in math and science to receive regional and national recognition for their diligence and talent.”

Members of the team from Fauquier High School in Warrenton brainstorm during the 2020 Blue Crab Bowl. © Aileen Devlin | Virginia Sea Grant.The National Ocean Science Bowl is a program of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership in Washington, D.C. NOSB seeks to interest students in ocean science as a college major and potential career. Through 25 regional competitions across the nation, NOSB provides an educational forum intended to generate student interest in the ocean sciences; improve awareness of our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes; and create an “ocean literate” society that can meet the ocean challenges of the future. During 2020, nearly 2,000 students from 300 high schools around the country will participate in the 23rd-annual NOSB event.

Sponsors

The Blue Crab Bowl is made possible by the generous support of national, regional, and local sponsors. Sponsors of the 2020 event include VIMS and W&M; Old Dominion University’s Dept. of Ocean, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences; Old Dominion University – Virginia Beach Center; ODU’s Research Vessel Fay Slover; NOAA Marine Operations Center – Atlantic; VIMS Marine Advisory Services Program; Virginia Sea Grant; McGraw Hill Education; the Poddery; Mid-Atlantic Marine Education Association; John Wily & Sons; Splendid Sands.com; and Hampton Inn Oceanfront South, Virginia Beach. For a list of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership’s national sponsors, visit the NOSB website at www.nosb.org/.

2020 Teams
  • Broadwater Academy, Exmore
  • Catholic High School, Virginia Beach
  • Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School - Glenns Campus, Glenns
  • Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School - Warsaw Campus, Warsaw
  • Churchland High School, Portsmouth
  • Cosby High School, Midlothian
  • Fauquier High School, Warrenton
  • Governor’s School for Science & Technology – New Horizons, Hampton
  • Isle of Wight Academy, Isle of Wight
  • Landstown High School, Virginia Beach
  • Maury High School, Norfolk
  • Norfolk Collegiate School – Team A, Norfolk
  • Norfolk Collegiate School – Team B, Norfolk
  • Patrick Henry High School, Ashland
  • Seton School, Manassas
  • York High School, Yorktown

Competitors from the 2020 Blue Crab Bowl relax after spending the day in heated tournament competition focused on the marine sciences.© Aileen Devlin | Virginia Sea Grant.