Senior Jith Eswarappa’s fast finger helped his high school, White Station High School, of Memphis, win the 26th annual Science Bowl Saturday afternoon at UTM.

White Station was the bowl’s winner last year also.

Eight West Tennessee high schools participated in the Science Bowl, sponsored by UTM’s chapter of the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society.

Houston, Madison Academic, Waverly Central and Bartlett played their first rounds in the UC ballroom. Champion White Station, Hutchinson, University School of Jackson and Germantown competed in their first rounds in a meeting room.

White Station won the first round against Hutchinson, while Germantown fought to the final minutes to advance against USJ.

Houston and Waverly Central won against Madison Academic and Bartlett, UTM Biology major Kendra Salter said. The four high schools that advanced to the semifinals were Germantown, Houston, Waverly Central and White Station. After intermission, the semifinals began in the ballroom.

The four teams were tested in their knowledge about chemistry, physics and biology. Waverly Central and White Station beat Houston and Germantown. Catharina Grubaugh and Linda Li of White Station began to develop uneasy nerves before the final game began.

After three rounds of scientific questions, Eswarappa, Li, Grubaugh and Anand Parikshak became the champions and received the 2005 Science Bowl trophy. The team averaged 140 points throughout the three rounds.

“They did really well,” said White Station teacher Paul Prather, who has attended all 26 Science Bowls.

“He has been to this Science Bowl for 26 years with three different schools,” said Dr. S.K. Airee, UTM professor of Chemistry and faculty adviser for SAACS. Returnees of last year’s bowl, Eswarappa and Parikshak were very excited about the win.

“This is my senior year and I am excited that the school won,” Eswarappa said.

Earlier Saturday morning, three additional schools, Gleason, Creekwood and Union City, took part in the testing of scientific knowledge. David Crowell from White Station received won the biology test, Eugene Ng from Bartlett won chemistry, and Catharina Grubaugh of White Station, won the general science competition. “The Science Bowl included 11 high schools and 128 students participated,” Airee said.

Airee, who has taught at UTM for 40 years, was assisted at the Bowl by members of UTM SAACS.

“Students can be smart, but it’s about the game. To win, you have to know how to play the game.”

Airee said he was encouraged by the turnout, and particularly that some schools were performing better.

Airee cited Waverly as an example.

“They won almost every year the first few years we had the Science Bowl, but then they faded away,” Airee said.

Waverly resurged to pick up the second place trophy this year. The bowl functions to increase awareness for the sciences and foster greater collegiate preparedness in science for high school students in the area. The game emphasizes quick recall of science facts.