Troy High Science Team: Strong Finish

Troy High School in Fullerton finished among the top eight teams Monday in the Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl Competition finals, losing a close match with the defending national champions.

DuPont Manual High School in Louisville, Ky., won the national competition, which began Sunday in Chevy Chase, Md., with 300 students on 60 teams from 40 states.

Another Southern California team, North Hollywood High, placed fourth.

At Troy High School, school officials praised science bowl team members for finishing among the top eight teams. (After fifth place, teams aren’t ranked but are told whether they’re among the top eight.)

“That is a good showing considering it’s only our second year in this competition,” said Dan Jundanian, who heads the school’s science department.

Team members will have only a few days to rest before joining 10 classmates for the National Science Olympiad from May 18 to 20 at Eastern Washington University in suburban Spokane.

“We will be defending our national championship,” Jundanian said. “So it’s back into the fire.”