Dexter High School Ocean Bowl Club Sets Sails for Maryland

Dexter High School's Ocean Bowl Club will have their knowledge of marine life put to the test in April as students compete in the National Ocean Sciences Bowl in Baltimore, MD.

For the seventh year in a row, the DHS club placed first in the Great Lakes Regional Ocean Bowl at the University of Michigan on Feb. 3.

"I am very excited for the students," club adviser Cheryl Wells said. "This is such a high-stakes competition. The students have been studying since September in order to prepare for the regional tournament."

DHS seniors Jorgen Powell, Angie Bach, Angelina Cicchella, Sco Harvey and Aman-Vir Singh Mandair will represent the team in the national competition.

Wells said students competed against 15 other schools across Michigan in the regional tournament. The club studies the oceans, geology, geography, physics, chemistry, biology, technology, marine law and social issues leading up to the regional trivia competition, sponsered by the Cooperative Institute of Limnology and Environmental Research and the Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab.

"Our kids are amazing," she said. "They train five days a week balancing classes, sports, band and their social lives outside of school."

The hard work does not go unnoticed. Wells said several alumni members have been hired to work for the University of Michigan, the U.S. Navy and other marine industries.

As part of their preparation for the national competition, the team will travel to Suttons Bay in June to study Lake Michigan.

"We also have to prepare a mock congressional testimony on a topic that deals with the oceans," Wells explained. "It's not all about science. The kids have to understand politics in order to get laws passed that affect our waterways."

Dexter will face 24 other regional champions in the national competition that will be held April 19-22 at the Sheraton Baltimore City Center Hotel.

“Congratulations to all the students participating in the 2012 NOSB regional competitions as they contribute so much to this important program in the field of ocean science,” said Robert Gagosian, president and chief executive officer of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership. “These scholars are the future stewards of our ocean, and I know this experience encourages them to continue to learn how the ocean works and how to wisely use our ocean resources for generations to come.”