PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles High School students took first and second and fourth place overall at the American Society of Civil Engineers Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition in Seattle.
There were 18 qualified bridges from high schools across the state, and an additional six bridges were tested by a hydraulic press at the engineering outreach event held at the Museum of Flight.
“It’s one of our best performances ever,” said Derek Johnson, project advisor and teacher at Port Angeles High School.
The top bridge in the competition was an arched, cantilevered bridge built by 18-year-old Port Angeles senior Lance Alderson, who took fourth place at the competition in 2011.
Alderson said that he chose the design “because the arch is a naturally strong shape.”
His bridge held 386 pounds, a full 50 pounds more than the second-strongest bridge, submitted by a team from Olympic High School in Silverdale.
“It was Lance’s fourth year in a row,” Johnson said.
The bridge design might have held more had one joint not popped, he said.
The overall award combines the strength and ascetics scores for a bridge that is both solid and pleasing to the eye.
Johnson said he expects that Alderson will receive a $500 scholarship for his win.
The scholarship is awarded annually to the top Port Angeles bridge builder, funded by a consortium of Port Angeles engineers.
Freshman Jeremy Choe, 15, took second place with a quickly-built bridge that was still being glue together two days before the competition.
Choe had to start over from scratch after his first bridge was disqualified because it failed to meet height guidelines.
A bridge built by another freshman, Zoe Bozich, 15 took fourth place in the overall category, holding 260 pounds before breaking.
Bozich had been disappointed by her effort before the competition, having made what she thought was a fatal mistake, and estimated her bridge would hold no more than 150 pounds.
She received an award for first place for strongest bridge.
The three overall winners are not eligible for the strength award, according to contest rules.
“We have never placed that many students that high. They exceeded their expectations and learned a lot,” Johnson said.
Freshman James Gallagher’s bridge was not entered in the competition, but was one of the bridges tested.
Gallagher, who said before the competition that he didn’t think his bridge would hold more than 120 pounds, took 211 pounds of weight before breaking.
The strong showing by the three freshmen in the group has promise for the next few years, if they return next year, Johnson said.
Junior Kelley Mayer, who finished in fourth place in 2011, behind Alderson, also did not compete. Her bridge was tested and held 72 pounds.
Civil engineers Chris Hartman of Zenovic & Associates; Gene Unger, a former Clallam County engineer; and Joe Donisi, Clallam County assistant engineer, have visited the school once a week since November to mentor students interested in building bridges for the contest.
“Our engineers have been dedicated to the kids,” Johnson said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.