JUNIOR, SENIOR HIGHS PLACE IN KNOWLEDGE MASTER

The Knowledge Master academic team at Cape Girardeau Central High earned top honors in Missouri and the junior-high team placed second in computer competition recently.

Ann Bartlett, who coordinates the high-school team, said this semester's performance was the best ever for Central High.

"We had our highest score ever, 1,663," she said. That score placed them first in Missouri and 13 in the nation.

This marks the sixth consecutive first-place state finish for the team, said Bartlett.

The top score in Knowledge Master is 2,000 points. The team answered 192 of 200 questions correctly. Bonus points are awarded for answering questions quickly.

The junior-high team placed second in Missouri with a score of 1,699, said Dixie Cook, team sponsor. They answered 195 questions correctly.

The team ranked 17 in the nation out of 486 junior high schools competing, Cook said.

"In order to get the perfect score," Cook said, "you would have to answer every question correctly in 7 seconds. They always put some math questions in which you couldn't possibly figure in 7 seconds."

The competition is held through computer disks sent to each participating school. Questions come from a variety of academic areas.

Cook said her team was a little disappointed with their finish, which is in the top 3 percent nationally of the schools competing. Last year the team was first in the nation.

"But anytime you come out second in the state and that high in the nation, it's a good performance," said Cook.

Members of the senior-high team are:

Seniors Rhett Browning, Ken Cantrell, Jason Green, Daniel Hilty, John Ireland, Ankesh Kadakia, Tara Robertson, Joe Werne and Mike Yaremko.

Juniors William Campbell, Haresh Kamath, Jason Merkler and Hema Rajan.

Sophomores Rene Robinson and Jennifer Worth.

Members of the junior high team are:

Ninth grade Chelsea Bowerman, Jamie Filer, Regen Hall, Lance Haman, Jason Leggett, Alison Nall, Matt Shivelbine, Andrew Trueblood, Kathryn Vangilder, Jessica Wagner and Erica Ware.

Eighth grade Jessica Anderson, Andy Fiehler, John Hearnes, Jennie Lukens, Eric McGowen, Josh Miller, Jon Raymond and Sabrina Renka.

Seventh grade Jim Fox, Gabe Hart, Todd Matzat and Emily Trueblood.