James Clemens won the Regional Science Olympiad at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – The Science Olympiad Team at James Clemens High School proved their knowledge by taking the regional title.

The Regional Science Olympiad was held at the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Feb. 15.

“Our team is composed of 15 students in grades 9-12. Only five students can be seniors by rule,” Robin Hodges said. Hodges and Carol Bohatch coach the Science Olympiad team.

Team members are Pratheek Bobba, Yasanka Chalasani, Dishant Shah, Prudvi Gadireddy, Kristin Harris, Nick Lott, Moon Su Kang, Caitlin Mc Fadden, Rahul Rameshbabu, Kerstin Savoie, Teddy Tran, Tommy Tran, Trent Tran, Luke Yeom and Vinootna Kantety.

Students compete in 23 different events. “Each student normally competes in at least two or three events, usually with a partner,” Bohatch said. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded for finishing first, second and third place, respectively.

“Students also are awarded points 1-16 for (the team’s finish) in relation to the other competitors in the event,” Hodges said. “At the end of the day, these points are added for all teams. The team with the lowest total score wins the team competition.”

James Clemens finished first overall among 15 teams. Jefferson County International Baccalaureate High School was second and Bob Jones High School ranked third.

“We won the right to participate in the state competition at Huntingdon College in Montgomery on April 12,” Hodges said. “All 15 of our students medaled in at least one event.”

The Science Olympiad event ran the gamut of the discipline in biology, chemistry, physics, earth science and engineering. The categories of chemistry lab, anatomy, designer genes, forensics and disease detectives seem drawn straight from a crime scene investigation.

Topics related to earth science were geologic mapping, water quality, rocks and minerals, astronomy and dynamic planet.

James Clemens Principal Dr. Brian Clayton said the Jets family was very proud of the Science Olympiad team.