The University of Wyoming Academic Quadrathlon team swept the western regional contest at the recent Western Section American Society of Animal Science meetings in Miles City, Mont.
The team won all four individual categories as well as the overall category, says team adviser Dan Rule, professor in the Department of Animal Science in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Members of the team are animal and veterinary science (ANVS) majors Stephanie Schroeder of Douglas, Mandy Thomas of Upperville, Va., and Colin Yorges of Torrington and agriculture education/ANVS major Brice Macintosh of Wheatland.
"This group of students was determined to represent UW to the best of their abilities and prepared for the challenge," says Rule, who also received the society's Distinguished Teaching Award at the meetings.
"They took it upon themselves without the aid of coaching to study and practice for the regional competition. This is the first team I have seen in the 20 years I have been involved with the Academic Quadrathlon to sweep the contest by winning first place in each of the four events."
Contest categories included a written challenge, an oral presentation on a topic of current relevance to animal agriculture, a laboratory practical challenge with application of applied knowledge in up to 10 disciplines and species, and finished with a double elimination quiz bowl.
Also competing were New Mexico State University, second; Colorado State University, third; Oregon State University; and BYU-Idaho.
The UW team will compete in the national Academic Quadrathlon contest in Nashville, Tenn., next February during the annual National Cattlemen's Beef Association convention.
