[February 18, 2025, St. Paul, MN] Minnetonka Middle School East Team 1 won the Minnesota statewide Middle School Science Bowl on February 15, competing against 21 other teams from 10 middle schools. The event was held at Rosemount Middle School and was organized by the Minnesota Academy of Science (MAS). In April, Minnetonka Middle School East’s team will represent Minnesota in the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C.
Minnetonka East’s winning team consists of Hu Hong, Zachary Larson, Eric Luo, Krithik Moorthy, and Nicolas Trujillo. The team is coached by Alberta Anderson, Jie Luo, and Tingting Zhu. Minnetonka Middle School West Team 1 came in second place and Wayzata Central Middle School Team 1 came in third place. Wayzata Central Middle School Team 2 won the Civility Award. See full competition results at mnmas.org.
Minnetonka Middle School East Team 1: Eric Luo, Hu Hong, Zachary Larson, Nicolas Trujillo, and Krithik Moorthy
“We are so proud of the team! They have grown a lot this season, learning how to play as a team and perform under intense pressure,” said Minnetonka Middle School East coach Jie Luo. “Minnetonka Middle School East is so excited and honored to represent Minnesota once again at Nationals this spring."
Science Bowl enables students to increase their science and math knowledge while also strengthening their teamwork skills. The tournament runs in a fast-paced, Q&A format where teams of students race to buzz in with their answers to science and math questions, and then work collaboratively to solve follow-up problems. Each team plays multiple games in a round robin tournament, competing to advance to a double-elimination tournament that culminates in the championship.
Founded in 1873, the MAS is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for Minnesotans of all backgrounds to engage in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) learning, inquiry, research, and networking. MAS sponsors STEM education programs and events for students in elementary school through college.
MAS coordinates the annual, statewide Science Bowl with the help of more than 80 volunteers and with generous support from sponsoring organizations including the Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement / Americorps Volunteer Generation Fund, Minnesota Department of Education, Ecolab, St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation, Verizon Foundation, Hardenbergh Foundation, and H.B. Fuller.
The middle schools that participated in the 2025 Science Bowl are: Eden Prairie Central Middle School, Magnuson Christian School, Mahtomedi Middle School, Minnetonka East Middle School, Minnetonka West Middle School, Parnassus Preparatory School, Rosemount Middle School, Wayzata Central Middle School, Wayzata East Middle School, and Wayzata West Middle School.
