National Science Bowl, Las Vegas Sun, May 3, 1996

Heavy gases for $400, Alex! Lisa Sciortino Friday, May 3, 1996 | 11:59 a.m. With his large frame, you wouldn't think much frightened Keith Wesolowski. But deep down, he's really scared. About what? Mostly, not knowing how stiff the competition will be when he and his Clark High School teammates attend the National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C., this weekend. "I don't know about anybody else, but I'm scared to death of these teams," the senior says. At first glance, it would seem the deck was stacked against Clark. For starters, Keith explains, most of the 51 other high school teams from around the country have gotten help studying for the four-day science quiz from "enormous" science laboratories in their states. Not to mention that no team from Nevada has brought home an award or placed in the top 10 at any National Science Bowl competition. Keith would like to change that. "I'm just hoping that we're gonna beat some of them," he says. The prospects of that happening look good this year. The four-man (plus one alternate) team has been studying for the bowl since March with the help of UNLV science and engineering professors and Department of Energy specialists, sponsors of the regional Science Bowl competition earlier this year. Every Wednesday for the last nine weeks, the Clark students have played relaxed rounds against the experts, buzzing in at a fever pitch on questions ranging from biology to math and physics. "This is going to make them a more powerful team," assures their coach, Clark biology teacher Beth Isaacs. She applauds the professors for "taking their knowledge and sharing it with us. If (the students) don't understand a question ... someone can come in and actually explain it to them." "They will explain the principle behind it," adds junior Peter Chang. "It makes it that much easier to remember." "I think we needed this," says teammate John Jusayan. At the regionals, he says, "We won most of our games by really large margins, so we were never seriously challenged." Still, the teens have managed to keep the professors on their toes. "These questions are very complicated," says Bill Culbreth, UNLV associate professor of civil engineering. "These would be very challenging to college students, so to be able to compete at this level is pretty incredible." Don't remind them. The genetics questions have been stumping junior Daryn Harkins. "I don't know anything about it," he says. "It just makes you feel stupid," Peter says. After all, doesn't everyone know what Neilsbohrium, Hessium and Meitnerium are? The new names for elements 107, 108 and 109 on the periodic table. Duh!