West Texas A&M University’s meat science team excels in national competition

The West Texas A&M Meat Science Quiz Bowl team achieved a historic win at the 2024 American Meat Science Association Reciprocal Meats Conference in Oklahoma City on June 16. The team made history by securing first and second place for their university for the first time in its history. Since the competition began in 2002, only four times has a single university claimed both positions in the final round, with WT winning its first national championship in 2020.

Coach Megan Eckhardt, a doctoral graduate student from New Braunfels, commended the team for their hard work and dedication, emphasizing that they worked as one team with one purpose. The team had prepared meticulously for the competition throughout the spring, focusing on their goal of success.

The Meat Science Quiz Bowl featured teams of four in a double-elimination bracket, with each round consisting of 20 head-to-head questions and 20 toss-up questions. The quickest to answer questions scored points, leading to a highly competitive environment.

The team members included Ryan Heitschmidt, Helene Keiser, Kade Lawrence, Jacob McMillan, Cole Petit, Josie Petit, Daniel Raab, Clayton Stevenson, Cole Verret, and Spencer Walahoski. Each member contributed to the team’s success with their knowledge and teamwork.

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