Students from the James E. Bazzell Middle School recently competed in the regional Science Olympiad competition at Somerset Community College. Bazzell entered two teams with each earning a trip to state competition at Western Kentucky University.

    “In the B-Division (middle school and freshman) there were eight teams competing,” explained middle school science teacher Vanous Brown. “ACS-JEB entered two teams. ACS-Bazzell Blue was made up of five freshmen and 10 eighth-graders and ACS-Bazzell Red, made up of 15 seventh graders. ACS-Bazzell Blue took first place as a team and ACS-Bazzell Red took third place. Both ACS-JEB teams will move on to complete at WKU in the state Science Olympiad competition. “

   Members of ACS-JEB Blue are: Austin Byrn, Quinn Towery, Sam Anderson, Carter Gross, Keith Jones, Maddie Jones, Katelynn Willingham, Madeline Payne, Carly Wheat, Nathan Thompson, Logan Mitchell, JT Davis, Preston Clarke, Austen Riffe, and Bradley Reynolds

   Individual Winners for ACS-JEB Blue were, Anatomy, third, Carly Wheat and Madeline Payne; Awesome Aquifers, second, Maddie Jones and Carly Wheat; Bottle Rocket, first, J.T. Davis and Bradley Reynolds; Compute This, first, Katelynn Willingham and Maddie Jones; Crime Busters, first, Katelynn Willingham and Maddie Jones; Disease Detectives, third, Carly Wheat and Madeline Payne; Dynamic Planet, first, Austin Byrn and Nathan Thompson; Experimental Design, first, Carter Gross, Keith Jones, and Sam Anderson; Food Science, second, Katelynn Willingham and Madeline Payne; Forestry, first, Quinn Towery and Logan Mitchell; Keep The Heat, second, Maddie Jones and Preston Clarke; Microbe MIssion, first, Austen Riffe and Carter Gross; Mission Possible, second, Austin Byrn, Quinn Towery, Sam Anderson; Mousetrap Vehicle, second, Carter Gross and Keith Jones; Optics, first, Austen Riffe and Logan Mitchell; Reach for the Stars, second, Preston Clarke and Sam Anderson; Rocks and Minerals, first, Keith Jones and Austin Riffe; Towers, second, Sam Anderson and Keith Jones; Water Quality, first, Austin Byrn and Nathan Thompson; Write It/Do It, second, Quinn Towery and Austin Byrn.

   Members of ACS-JEB Blue team are: Dale Shivers, Josh Bomar, Ryan Conner, Jacob Gross, Jessie Pruitt, Savannah Ranney, Erika Gilliam, Wesley Fisher, Abby Mysinger, ReaAnn Stafford, Jasmine Taylor, Zach Logsdon, Brandon Thompson, Jack Byrn, and Deacon Stinson.

   Individual Winners for ACS-JEB Red were Awesome Aquifers, first, Jack Byrn and Zach Logsdon; Bottle Rocket, second, Brandon Thompson and Zach Logsdon; Compute This, third, ReaAnn Stafford and Jasmine Taylor; Experimental Design, third, Wesley Fisher, Jessie Pruitt, and Brandon Thompson; Keep the Heat, third, Jacob Gross and Ryan Conner, Mission Possible, first, Jessie Pruitt, Jasmine Taylor, and ReaAnn Stafford; Mousetrap Vehicle, first, Ryan Conner and Jacob Gross; Reach for the Stars, third, Savannah Ranney and Erika Gilliam; Road Scholar, third, Zach Logsdon and Deacon Stinson; Rocks and Minerals, second, Jack Byrn and Jessie Pruitt; Towers, third, Savannah Ranney and Erika Gilliam

   According to Science Olympiad Website, Science Olympiad functions much like a football or soccer team, requiring preparation, commitment, coaching and practice throughout the year. According to the guidelines, each school team is allowed to bring 15 students who cross-train for a variety of events in their skill set.