Five Decorah Envirothon teams earn enough points for State Championships

The "Ospreys"--Dalton Brown, Peter Swanson, Shai Shay, Richard Weis and Maggie Schwarz

Five Decorah Envirothon teams earned enough points at the regional Envirothon competition at Kirkwood Community College to qualify for the State Envirothon April 11th at Springbrook State Park in Guthrie Center.

Although five Decorah teams earned enough points to finish in the top 15 in the state, only two teams will be allowed to compete at state because of the "Decorah rule" which limits a particular school  to only two teams at the state competition.  That rule was put into place after Decorah qualified four teams for the state event seven years ago.

Students were tested on their knowledge of soils, forestry, aquatics and wildlife at the Iowa City regional.  One Decorah team, the "Ospreys,"  had the highest overall cumulative score of 90 correct on all four tests at the regional--the highest cumulative score in the entire state.  The Ospreys also had the highest score in the forestry and wildlife categories.  Osprey team members are Maggie Schwarz, Shai Shay, Peter Swanson, Richard Weis and Dalton Brown.

Another Decorah team, the "Painted Turtles," had the highest score in the aquatics category.  Painted Turtles team members are Shania Kelly, Sylvia Betteridge, Josephine Berlage, Paul Strand and Logan Brauer, with Anna Spencer as an alternate. 

Other teams competing were "Team Phoenix," with team members Devvin Schroeder, Emma Fretheim, Everett Wegge, Billy Lange and Christopher McCulinich; "Suricata suricata," with team members Melanie Gossman, Bryce Hosting, Jackson Varney, Gabe Varney and Lane Rahlf; "Notorious Narwhals," with team members Clay Johansen, Gus Hayes, Henrich Marquardt, Lars Marquardt and Braden Krivachek and alternate Isaac Fish; and "Decorah FFA," with team members Ashley Schwartzhoff, Madison McCabe, Maddy Hoyme, Hannah Sikkink and Dan Schwartzhoff.

The "Painted Turtles": Sylvia Betteridge, Shania Kelly, Josephine Berlage, Paul Strand and Logan Brauer (Click on photos for larger images)

The Decorah FFA: Dan Schwartzhoff, Ashley Schwartzhoff, Hannah Sikkink, Maddy Hoyme and Madison McCabe

The "Notorious Narwhals": Clay Johansen, Braden Krivachek, Lars Marquardt, Gus Hayes and Henrich Marquardt

"Suricata suricata:" Front: Jackson Varney, Melanie Gossman, back: Lane Rahlf, Gabe Varney and Bryce Hosting