Ferris Celebrates Big Science Win; Then Error Found

They rang the victory bell at Spokane’s Ferris High School on Monday, summoned the news media and showed off a nearly 3-foot trophy and a $2,000 check won at the Science Olympiad state competition Saturday.

Then the telephone rang.

There’s been a mistake, a tournament official said. Scores were miscalculated. Instead of finishing 2 points ahead of the second-place team, Ferris High finished 4 points behind.

Now it’s unclear whether Ferris or Toledo High School in Lewis County will represent Washington state at the Science Olympiad national tournament in Atlanta on May 18.

Toledo beat Ferris by 4 points at last year’s state tournament.

This year’s flub aggravated school officials who had cheered the team’s win Saturday in Everett.

“It’s not fair to the kids. You don’t give somebody a first-place trophy, then take it away,” said Assistant Principal Larry Parton, husband of team coach and science teacher Cinda Parton.

Ferris still has a chance.

Tournament official Bob Campbell agreed to refigure the scores in one category in which Ferris officials believe other errors were made - if he can locate the paperwork.

“What scares me is he said they’ll see if they can find the records,” said Ferris Principal Jon Bentz, whose son, Ryan, is on the team.

The 15-member Ferris team hopes they’ll learn today whether they must cancel plane and hotel reservations, return the trophy and take down the good news from the reader board in front of the school.

Science Olympiad competitions run somewhat like a track meet. There were 23 events in this year’s state contest, plus an event being tried for possible use next year.

That extra event was the source of the foul-up.

Scores from that event were mistakenly calculated as part of the overall scores. When they were removed from the equation, Ferris fell to second place.

Campbell, a Snohomish County engineer who volunteers with Science Olympiad, said he learned of the blunder Monday morning. He vented his frustration when talking with a reporter Monday afternoon.

“When you’re dealing with volunteers unfortunately you have to take what you get,” Campbell said. “Some are very obnoxious and persistent in their personal attitudes and it doesn’t help things run smoothly.”

Team members learned the bad news Monday afternoon in Bentz’s office. They looked worried, asked a few questions, but remained calm.

“Let’s be optimistic. You’re still wonderful, no matter what,” Bentz told them.

The Ferris students are Ryan Bentz, Andrew Brick, Anne Cain, Ryan Cassidy, Shannon George, Kevin Koller, Amanda Lehman, Jessica Narolski, Miranda Peterson, Michael Ross, Scott Siera and Marcie Tiffany.

Chase Middle School also won four medals at the event.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo