Bloomington High School North, Nikean, 2011, Page 93

Description:	120T.Summingdays tO 2nd place at the State jjbuild 3 robot robotics competition a r +**7members in A f\ f\f\f\ .mmA OUOtlCSrobotics club T UjUUU students QlnJjat the robotics worldchampionshipThinking ?!??more to create one robotThe fights are bright. A camera watches silentlyfrom the back of the room. Eight competitorssit in two rows over then buzzers, their sponsors and alternates watching from the sidelines. TheBrain Game is underway.A weekly televised trivia competition, the BrainGame brings together the best and brightest students from high schools all over the state and facesthem off in a game show-style competition. Playersbuzz in to deliver answers to questions given by thehost, and whichever team has received the mostpoints by the end of the game continues on to thenext round.The North team, which consists of seniors AlecDermis and Harry Gaebler, junior Caroline Watkinsand sophomore Matthew Munroe, had to meetseveral unforeseen challenges, mcluding a stickingbuzzer and a second round against the defendingchampions after winning their first match.It wasnt even really a contest the second game,Gaebler said.In spite of their loss, Watkins still feels fortunate tohave been able to participate.This year it was just a really relaxed atmosphere,Watkins said. Kind of just lets have fun, so thatwas awesome.This year the team continued one of its traditions:ignoring their designated return time.We get to miss school for the game, Gaebler said.Were supposed to be back by 1 oclock, and usuallyits just like, Well, well have lunch in Circle Centre.Usually what happens is the guys go to the coffeeshop or the video game stores and the girls go toNordstroms.However, this time things were a little different.This year [Caroline] just kind of tagged aroundwith us because she was the only girl, even amongstthe alternates, Dennis said.Watkins took it all in stride, recalling that sheavoided being harassed by salesmen in the mallbecause she was walking in the middle of a pack ofguys in suits. She suspected they must have lookedlike secret service agents.Aside from a few jokes about being the token female and the last girl ever to do Brain Game, it reallywasnt that bad, Watkins said. I mean, [the guys]were fine. I found it amusing.Though Watkins was the only girl participating inBrain Game, she found herself in good company.You just get to spend the day with a bunch ofother people who -1 hope theyre not offended ifI call them nerds - you get to spend the day witha bunch of nerds, Watkins said. Teople who likeknowledge as much as you do and have fun with it.000
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomnorth/id/7086
Collection:	Bloomington High School North

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