While the rest of the school gathered in the great hall for Grand Knight coronation during homeroom on Friday, Jan. 13, the freshmen congregated in the theater for the final round of the 2012 Machine Competition. The event was led by physical science teachers Abbi Baker and Ted Reiff. Elena Cameron Annie Appelhof Michaela Heuckendorf were the winners with 1,025.64 points, blowing away the competition, second place having a mere 41.78 points.

Winners from each Physical Science class brought their machines to the stage. “They were supposed to jump a ramp. We got the inspiration from Evel Knievel,” said Mrs. Baker.

The machine project has evolved greatly in the last three years. “It’s still the machine project. Last year we introduced the K’nex, and before that they were constructed out of cardboard and a mouse trap,” said Mrs. Baker.

The results of the project were very different than what anyone was expecting. “Only a few students could make the jump, but overall they made a great effort, some days pulling out their hair [in frustration],” said Mrs. Baker.

The students share these sentiments for frustration. “It was much harder than I thought it was going to be. I thought it was going to be pretty easy, but I never could my machine over the ramp,” said competition participant, Megan Haakomsur. “We couldn’t figure out how to get the machine to move on its own but with research, we figured out how to use rubber bands and there was much more improvement,” said Annie Applehof, one of the winners of the competition.