Manatee, Sarasota high schools win county Envirothon competitions

First place team: ‘Manatee Blue’ from Manatee High School – Advisor Pat Zalo with team members Lauren Demo, Theresa Polly, Leah Rothfeld, Anna Trinci, and Kyle Grosser. Alternate-Holly Rizzo. (Photo courtesy of Maureen Flaherty)

Manatee High School's "Manatee Blue" team placed first among Manatee County schools in the annual Manasota Regional Envirothon on Feb. 7 at Oscar Scherer State Park in Osprey.

Taking second and third, respectively, were two other Manatee High School teams, "Loopy Lizards," and "Earth, Sea, &  Sky," reports  Gail Cameron Somodi, Soil Conservation supervisor for the Agriculture and Extension Service Division, Community Services Department, Manatee County Government.

Among Sarasota County high schools, the "Tree Thuggers" from Sarasota High School placed first. Second place went to the Suncoast Polytechnical High School "Renegades" and third went to the "Jolly Green Giants"’ from Sarasota High School.

The first place team from each county is eligible to compete in the State Envirothon at Hillsborough River State Park in Hillsborough County in April.

One hundred students representing seven Manatee and Sarasota county high schools competed in the Envirothon, an outdoor environmental team competition for high school students.

Envirothon tests students'  knowledge of aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and sustainable rangeland management."

Also taking part in the competition from Manatee County were teams from Bayshore High School and
Southeast High School.

Other Sarasota County schools in the competition were  Booker High and Riverview high schools.

Manatee River Soil and Water Conservation District along with Sarasota Soil and Water Conservation District sponsor the competition.

Manatee Sarasota Fish and Game Association donated the food for participants of the Envirothon. The Mosaic Company and Sarasota County Farm Bureau provided event T-shirts. Keep Manatee Beautiful sponsored the awards for the Manatee County students.

First place Sarasota team: ‘Tree Thuggers’ from Sarasota High School - Advisor Andy Harshman with team members Jackie Mogensen, Zelda Blowers, Zach Hovey, Kelly Crocker, Dylan Seeman. Alternate-Ricardo Martinez. (Photo courtesy of Maureen Flaherty)