Lexington High School’s Science Bowl team recently attended the National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C. The team was invited to Nationals, which is run by the United States Department of Energy, after winning the MIT Science Bowl High School Regional, defeating Phillip Exeter for the title. After a long season of hard work and team effort, the A team placed in the top twelve in the nation.
The LHS science bowl team, which is made up of four subteams, practices two times a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. During practices, the A and B teams practice against each other, as do the C and D teams
“Through these practices, we’re trying to get faster. We’re trying to expand our knowledge base. And usually, that serves as a pretty good simulation of their own competition,” Jerry Xu, a senior and member of the LHS science bowl team, said.
At each practice, teams typically participate in mock rounds that imitate the format of a competition. Each round has 23 to 25 questions, which consist of a variety of topics that include math, chemistry, biology, physics, earth and space science, and an optional category of energy. After questions, a bonus question that is worth more points and can be collaborated on is offered for both teams to answer.
In addition to the in-person club meetings, the team often participates in virtual scrimmages and meetings. Teams from across the United States helped the A team understand the kinds of teams they would face at Nationals.
“I think the best way to practice for us was really just playing in actual rounds against other teams,” Xu said.
The unity of the team plays a large role in the team’s success. Alongside the A team, the B team placed third at regionals, and the C team placed in the top five.
“We had so much synergy, and we were able to work together so effectively, and that’s what helped us win the regional competition at MIT,” Xu said.
In addition to the team’s successes, Xu noted that international and national tournaments have enabled the team to meet new people and make new friends.
“What’s really nice is that we’re not just trying to win ourselves, but we’re also meeting other people, and we’re talking with people from other teams who are just as passionate in science as we are,” Xu said.
Looking ahead, Xu holds high hopes for the rest of the season. He aims to create a sustainable and prepared younger generation of science bowl members in hopes of carrying on the legacy of the current team’s successes.
“We want to make sure that we’re raising these younger members from the B, C, and D teams to make sure that they’re able to grow into the new A team once the seniors leave,” Xu said.
