{"id":26347,"date":"2018-10-01T09:44:48","date_gmt":"2018-10-01T14:44:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.discoverclarksville.com\/articles\/?p=26347"},"modified":"2018-10-01T09:44:48","modified_gmt":"2018-10-01T14:44:48","slug":"apsu-geoclubs-geodes-hammer-out-geoconclave-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.discoverclarksville.com\/articles\/2018\/10\/01\/apsu-geoclubs-geodes-hammer-out-geoconclave-championship\/","title":{"rendered":"APSU GeoClub\u2019s geodes hammer out GeoConclave championship"},"content":{"rendered":"

Austin Peay State University (APSU)<\/h2>\n

\"AustinClarksville, TN<\/strong> – For the first time ever, Austin Peay State University\u2019s GeoClub won the top two honors of the GeoConclave, a competition that tests the academic and physical talents of six regional universities\u2019 geology students.<\/p>\n

\"GeoClub<\/a>

GeoClub attendees were, front row from left, John Butkevicius, Jennifer Stephens, Stiggy Stephens (dog), Brittany Welch, Jeanette Williams and Sarah Burkholder, and back row from the left, Tina Silverman, Lily Poteete, Dawn Grice, Jamin Welch, Chad Bolding and Nate Burkholder.<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

In a competition that includes geode bowling (yes, the bowling of geodes) and rock hammer throwing (yes, the throwing of rock hammers), that\u2019s pretty darned cool.<\/p>\n

Eleven GeoClub members attended the event September 25th at Fall Creek Falls State Park and won GeoConclave overall champions and the 35th<\/sup> Annual Rock Bowl.<\/p>\n

Other universities at the event were Murray State, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee Tech, the University of Tennessee at Martin and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve never won both trophies at the same time (during the 35 years),\u201d Jennifer Stephens, president of the GeoClub, said. \u201cWe couldn\u2019t believe it. We felt really confident going into the Rock Bowl, winning those events, but I didn\u2019t really believe it until I heard.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just wrecked everyone\u2019s world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018We Didn’t Even Study\u2019<\/h3>\n
\"Austin<\/a>

Austin Peay\u2019s GeoClub left their mark (with a bunch of others) at the Fall Creek Falls cabin. It says \u201cAPSU \u2013 GeoConclave Champs 2018, \u2018We didn\u2019t even study.\u2019\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n

Previously drawn graffiti lined the walls and door of the GeoClub\u2019s cabin at Fall Creek Falls, and club members added their own mark before leaving this year\u2019s competition.<\/p>\n

[320left]\u201cAPSU – GeoConclave Champs 2018,\u201d the scrawl reads, and in smaller letters below, \u201cWe didn\u2019t even study.\u201d<\/p>\n

The biggest competition at the conclave is the Rock Bowl, an elimination-style tournament that pits school against school in a battle of geologic knowledge.<\/p>\n

Austin Peay beat Murray State in Round 1, Tennessee Tech in Round 2 and MTSU in the finals.<\/p>\n

Is Chicken Hotter Than Magma?<\/h3>\n
\"Jeanette<\/a>

Jeanette Williams readies to throw a rock hammer. She earned first place in the event.<\/p><\/div>\n

Other academic contests included hydrogeology, geologic mapping, mineral identification, pace and compass, rock identification and fossil identification.<\/p>\n

And the physical competitions were, yep, geode bowling and rock hammer throwing.<\/p>\n

[320right]Another competition happened during lunch, when two students from each school competed in \u201cPressure and Temperature,\u201d sponsored by the American Institute of Professional Geologists.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne student had to eat hot chicken as fast as they could, and the other student had to answer questions on metamorphic petrology (the study of rocks and how they form),\u201d Stephens said.<\/p>\n

Stephens and teammate John Butkevicius won third place.<\/p>\n

\u201cJohn is not a fan of hot chicken, but he did it,\u201d Stephens said.<\/p>\n

APSU Geoclub’s Mountainous Results<\/h3>\n
\"Jennifer<\/a>

Jennifer Stephens and John Butkevicius show off their awards after the Pressure and Temperature competition. Butkevicius ate a lot of Hattie B\u2019s hot chicken for the honor.<\/p><\/div>\n

    \n
  • Hydrogeology:<\/strong> Jennifer Stephens, first place.<\/li>\n
  • Mineral Identification:<\/strong> Jennifer Stephens, first place.<\/li>\n
  • Pace & Compass:<\/strong> John Butkevicius, first place.<\/li>\n
  • Rock Identification:<\/strong> Brittany Welch, second place.<\/li>\n
  • Fossil Identification:<\/strong> John Butkevicius, second place.<\/li>\n
  • Women\u2019s Rock Hammer Throw, Accuracy:<\/strong> Jeanette Williams, first place.<\/li>\n
  • Women\u2019s Geode Roll, Distance:<\/strong> Dawn Grice, first place.<\/li>\n
  • Men\u2019s Geode Roll, Distance:<\/strong> Chad Bolding, first place.<\/li>\n
  • Men\u2019s Geode Roll, Accuracy:<\/strong> Chad Bolding, first place.<\/li>\n
  • GeoConclave Overall Champions:<\/strong> Austin Peay.<\/li>\n
  • GeoConclave Rock Bowl Champions:<\/strong> Austin Peay.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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    [320center]<\/p>\n

    Video<\/h3>\n
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