Van Nuys High Science Team Places 2nd in Regional Bowl

In science, it is an axiom that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Van Nuys High School’s science bowl team learned the lesson Saturday when arch-rival Venice High School bounced back from last year’s loss to win the regional competition of the National Science Bowl.

Despite predictions that Van Nuys would win the Los Angeles competition and have a chance to repeat as national champion, Venice won handily, 122-88.

“It feels great,” Noah Bray-Ali said minutes after his team’s victory in a competition that mixes science acumen, buzzer reflexes and a smidgen of luck.

“But really, 99% of the game is listening to the questions and getting to the buzzers first. We’re no smarter or better than Van Nuys.”

Cracking a smile, he added, “Last year we were pretty lame.”

But that was last year. This time around, Bray-Ali’s team gets to go to Washington, D.C., on May 3 for the national bowl--where team members hope to follow in Van Nuys’ footsteps. They also will receive $1,000 worth of science equipment for their school.

“If we do even half what Van Nuys did in Washington last year, we will have done really well,” Coach Richard Erdman said.

The Van Nuys team--seniors Scott Schneider, Dean Chen, Zac Bell and Gabriel Zada and junior Ben Arden--went home with second-place honors. The team is coached by Art Altschiller. North Hollywood High came in third, and Milken Community High School in Bel-Air placed fourth, giving Valley-area schools three of the top four places.

Valley schools also fared well in the hands-on land-yacht building competition, in which teams build small boats on wheels. West Hills’ Chaminade Preparatory High School shared top honors with the Brentwood School. San Fernando High School’s yacht, constructed of wood, aluminum foil and plastic straws, took third.

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The competition at the headquarters offices of the Department of Water and Power, the local sponsor for the Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl, culminated months of preparation and intensive study for the 32 teams that attended. They were required to have a comprehensive understanding of computer science, biology, physics, Earth science, chemistry, astronomy, robotics, space travel and mathematics.

The quiz show-style competition also included the loose rubric of “general science.” Since rules prohibit using class time to prepare for the bowl, the Venice team members met daily before and after school and during lunch. On Friday, the five skipped “Senior Skip Day” to practice.

For the Van Nuys team--undefeated in the double-elimination competition until they lost to Venice in the semifinals and finals--it was a tough loss.

“I had a good time doing this, but it’s obviously disappointing,” said Ben Arden, 16. “Venice was good. They were really good. I don’t hold them any grudge, but next year I want to come back and beat them.”

After a brief bout of shock, the Van Nuys five returned to the wisecracking camaraderie that characterized their competition style.

“Well, losing isn’t as much fun as winning,” said team captain Scott Schneider, laughing. The Woodland Hills resident is the only returning member from last year’s championship team. A friend standing nearby finished the thought: “But it was more fun than a good solid kick to the head.”

Besides, “We’re gonna kill them at JETS,” Scott said. JETS is the Junior Engineering Technology Society competition in two weeks, in which Van Nuys is entered.