Decorah HS breaks record for number of Envirothon participants and has two teams heading to state

Record-breaking number of participants at the 2018 regional Envirothon competition from Decorah High School: First row (l-r): Leila Johnson, Kaia Neal, Lillian Grouws, Jenna Raddatz, Josie Kleckner, Natalie Tapscott, Brayden Krivachek, Lars Marquardt, Jesus Peña, Morgan Brauer; Second row (l-r): Sofie Grouws, Danielle Lundtvedt, Anja Madsen, Rye Hawley, Gus Hayes, Evie Holyoake, Owen Burgdorf-Hibbs, Helen Weis, Emma Fretheim, Greta Ransom, Megan Robinson, Noah Lovelace; Third Row (l-r): Mya Herman, Rachel Hines, Andrew Kozelka, Clay Johansen, Edwin Holyoake, Isaac Fish, Meg Sessions, Sophie Schwarz; Back Row (l-r): Jackson Varney, Andrew Kephart, Payton Schutte, Ambria Pipho, Billy Lange, Jack Berlage, Josh Nierengarten, James Paulson, Luke Stock, Jarod Phillips, Dan Willie, Angel Peña; Not Pictured: Celia Lesmeister, Will Schwarz, Mara Frieden

It is on to state for two Envirothon teams from Decorah High School. They finished in the top 15 out of 59 teams from across Iowa at the regional competition at Kirkwood Community College campus in Iowa City, earning the right to compete at the state contest to be held on April 16th at the YMCA Camp near Boone, Iowa. The top 15 scoring teams from regionals are invited to the state contest.

The OCP team consisting of members Luke Stock, Josh Nierengarten, Jarod Phillips, Daniel Willie, and James Paulson finished 2nd at the regional contest and had the sixth best overall score of all 59 teams testing in the state. The Conspiracy of Lemurs team consisting of Sofie Grouws, Lillian Grouws, Kaia Neal, Anja Madsen, and Danielle Lundtvedt finished 3rd at the regional level and eighth in the state and will also represent Decorah at the state meet. The winning team at this year's state competition will compete at the national competition to be held at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho, July 22nd-28th.

Three of Decorah's other teams finished 10th, 11th, and 12th of the top 15 teams at the regional competition, but because of the "Decorah Rule" (only two teams from one school are allowed to advance to the state competition), they will not be able to compete at the state meet. The original Iowa Envirothon rules allowed the 15 top scoring teams to compete in the state contest, but when Decorah sent four teams to the state contest in 2007, the Decorah Rule was added. Last year Decorah established a new school and state record for number of participants from one school when thirty five DHS students competed. This year Decorah surpassed their own record: 45 students making up nine teams competed at the regional contest.

The Envirothon is a team competition for high school students, testing their knowledge of natural resources. In the field and classroom, teams of five students are challenged to use their knowledge and critical thinking skills to conduct hands-on investigations, solve real-life scenarios, and answer written questions covering five categories: Aquatics, Forestry, Soils, Wildlife and Current Environmental Issues. This year's Decorah Envirothon teams are coached by Larry Berland and John Kraus.

The Iowa Envirothon is sponsored by the Conservation Districts of Iowa and their partners. The following agencies, organizations, businesses and individuals have supported the Iowa Envirothon through their contributions and donations: Conservation Districts of Iowa, EOR Iowa, LLC, Friend of CDI – Anna Golightly, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship – Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa FFA Association, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Society, Iowa Soybean Association, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Smithfield Foods – Algona, Carroll, Denison, Mason City, Orange City, Sioux Center and Sioux City, Springbrook State Park, and many Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

OCP team members (l-r): Luke Stock, Daniel Willie, Jarod Phillips, James Paulson, and Josh Nierengarten finished 2nd at the regional contest.

Conspiracy of Lemurs team (l-r): Danielle Lundtvedt, Lillian Grouws, Sofie Grouws, Kaia Neal, and Anja Madsen finished 3rd at the regional contest.