April 3, 2007

Cowley AEC team wins regional meet

Showing they will be a force at the state tournament, Cowley College’s Academic Excellence Challenge team defeated all five of its opponents to win the region tournament held at Neosho County Community College on Saturday.

Cowley defeated Highland, Kansas City, Pratt, Neosho, and Allen County as they averaged 190 points per round. Cowley is now 10-0 through the regionals and prelims.

Team members are, Derek Bowman, Brett Albright, Steven Arebalo, Matt Beach, and Chansi Long.

The team will now prepare for the state tournament, which will be held April 28 at Colby Community College. Cowley will have an automatic bye into the finals and will play one of the lower seeded teams in the first round.

Cowley will face some tough competition on the other side of the state as Colby, Cloud County, and Hutchinson each went 3-1 to tie at its regional competition. Cowley’s toughest competition could come from Hutchinson, which finished ahead of Cowley at the Hutchinson Snow Bowl in December.

“It is tough to stay undefeated when the other team is really good,” Cowley mathematics instructor/AEC coach Greg Nichols said. ”I think we can overcome their strengths if we stay focused and compete one match at a time.”

Region final standings: Cowley, 950 points; Highland, 765; Kansas City, 740; Neosho County, 500; Pratt, 465; Allen County, 365.