WKU News & Events

April 15, 2002

WKU Concrete Canoe Team Wins
Regional Title

Bowling Green, Ky. - For the seventh consecutive year, Western Kentucky University's concrete canoe

team has advanced to national competition.

WKU's "Evolution" won four of five paddling events and three of four academic events to win the overall title in the Ohio Valley regional competition held Friday and Saturday. The national competition is scheduled for June 21-24 in Madison, Wis.

Western's concrete canoe team has finished in the top 10 nationally the past two years -- eighth in 2001 and 10th in 2000. The team has its sights on a better finish this year.

"This is probably the best boat we've put in the water and I like to be able to make that comment each year," said Matthew Dettman, civil engineering professor and team adviser. "'Evolution' is the result of a 10-year effort in the concrete canoe and is a reflection on all of our students over the past 10 years."

In the paddling portion of the competition, "Evolution" turned in the fastest times ever for a WKU concrete canoe. "Our team was in the top 10 in every race at nationals last year and this group has a really good chance to really well," Dettman said.

Western's entry in the steel bridge competition failed to advance to the national contest after being assessed a penalty during the construction contest. Western's bridge won three first-place awards - aesthetics, construction speed and construction efficiency – but finished third overall behind Dayton and Cleveland State.

"I am very proud of these guys," said Greg Mills, civil engineering professor and team adviser. "Team captain Dan Haney and his team did an exceptional job.

"This was clearly the best bridge Western has ever built. Without that penalty, Western's bridge easily wins the competition."

A 200-pound weight penalty was added after Western's team completed the construction portion of the event. One side of the bridge was ½ to ¾ of an inch too far from the imaginary river.

"This unfortunate error shouldn't diminish the fact that our students did an excellent job of designing a bridge that was an improvement over last year," Mills said.

In a surveying competition held Friday, two Western students received awards. Joseph Van Zee, a Russellville freshman, was first in level setup and Andy Hawkins, a Munfordville freshman, was second. Hawkins received third in another equipment setup event.

Students from Ohio State, Dayton, Cincinnati, Cincinnati State, Cleveland State, Pittsburgh, Kentucky and Youngstown State competed in the Ohio Valley regional events.

Members of the WKU concrete canoe team include: Clay Ellis, a Beaver Dam senior; Deneatra Flener, a Morgantown senior; Matt Shockley, a Mount Washington junior; Chris Bates, a Sacramento senior; Brian Bidwell, a senior from Conneaut, Ohio; Jason Sparks, a Woodburn senior; Scott Neighbors, a Bowling Green senior; Anthony Elmore, a Leitchfield senior; Nick Soards, a Glasgow senior; Matt Greene, a sophomore from Gallatin, Tenn.; Jason Michael, a Louisa senior; Cody Henderson, a Morgantown junior; Josh Moore, a Bowling Green senior; and Daniel Kirby, an Alvaton senior.

Members of the WKU student steel bridge team, all seniors, include: Dan Haney of Munster, Ind.; Danny Bratcher and Josh Miller of Bowling Green; Daniel Kirby of Alvaton; Larry Shelton of Owensboro; Aaron Talbot of Greenbrier, Tenn.

For more information, contact Matthew Dettman at (270) 745-2462. More WKU news is available on the World Wide Web at www.wku.edu. If you'd like to receive WKU news via E-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.