“If you’re interested in science in general, you’ll get good at Science Bowl without studying specifically,” says junior Richard Peng. The Science Bowl is an academic competition that tests students’ knowledge and teamwork under pressure. Using a rapid-fire buzzer system, teams of four and an alternate player compete head-to-head, answering questions across six scientific disciplines: physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, earth and space, and energy (an all-encompassing science topic).
Excelling in such a wide range of subjects requires significant preparation and strong teamwork. These Science Bowl competitors continue to work hard and rise above these challenges as each member contributes an individual area of expertise.
Many of the competitors developed a passion for these fields even before high school. Junior Richard Peng, the team’s biologist and chemistry specialist, admits he “memorized the whole periodic table in 4th grade,” while mathematics-focused junior Anish Roy says “my dad taught me algebra when I was eight.” Although these students are currently the leaders of a lively team, it wasn’t always like this.
Three years ago, several Mitty students banded together to put together a Science Bowl team, but in its early stages, consistent practice routines lacked enforcement. Without a dedicated room to meet, students held meetings online. That all changed last season when Anish, Richard, and fellow junior Sudhanva Belur took initiative. With the support of club moderator Mrs. Brenda Welles, they organized practices and peer sessions in a dedicated classroom.
This year, the team has raised its level of preparedness by solidifying its weekly practice schedule and moving towards tournament-style preparation. In fact, the team recently acquired a buzzer system that improves their practices by simulating the tournament environment. Now, the members regularly review past packets together and develop team strategies for the competition.
Beginning the previous summer, students practiced once or twice weekly, but would often meet informally outside of scheduled sessions to study together. According to Sudhanva, the current team has “the most consistent practices we’ve ever had.” He added, “any free time we have, we always practice just to get better.”
Through the many hours they spend together and their shared passion for science, team members have formed strong bonds and lasting friendships.
The team prepares for both regional qualifying competitions and invitational competitions that involve the best teams across the country. In December 2024, the team competed at the Berkeley Science Bowl Invitational and tied for 11th place, a hard-earned accomplishment. This past December, they improved their performance even more, climbing three places and earning 8th place. Additionally, Richard, Anish, and Sudhanva each earned top places in their respective fields at the competition.
Looking forward, the team is training for the SLAC Regional Science Bowl taking place later this February as well as the Stanford Science Bowl Invitational in early March. In preparation for these events, the team plans on ramping up practices throughout the month from once or twice a week to nearly every day.
As the team looks ahead, members encourage any interested students to attend practices and get involved. “Practice makes perfect—everybody’s invited to come to practices,” says Sudhanva. With a welcoming environment and drive for improvement, these competitors aim to continue growing well beyond this season.