This month, the Southern Miss Marine Education Center (MEC) was the epic hub of ocean science excitement as it hosted the 2025 Central Gulf Coast Regional Hurricane Bowl. Fifty-five brilliant high school students from Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida stormed the event, competing for the regional title and the chance to take home the national champion title at the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) — a competition that’s been inspiring future marine experts since 1998.
The event kicked off with a welcome dinner, featuring some seriously cool presentations by marine aquaculture pros. Dr. Reg Blaylock from the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center talked about the nitty-gritty of aquaculture research at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM). Then, Rusty Grice, from the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium and Auburn University Shellfish Lab, reeled in the crowd with tips on the business of aquaculture. But it was Mark Havard from Two Cracker Oyster Company who really brought the ocean vibe, giving a behind-the-scenes look into the world of oyster farming.
Then it was time for the main event: the competition. Eleven teams squared off in buzzer-style showdowns, answering questions that ranged from marine policy to ocean chemistry and everything in between. From tough trivia to brain-busting critical thinking challenges, these ocean science whizzes proved that the future of STEM is so bright, you might need shades.
The winners of the 2025 Hurricane Bowl are:
- 1st Place: Navarre High School Team A (Florida)
Coaches: Jasmine Jordan and Tami McConnell
Team Members: Cutter Reynolds, Bryce Newmans, Sean Noonan, Sophia Marcais, Jonathan Mallette
- 2nd Place: Navarre Beach Marine Science Station Team A (Florida)
Coach: Charlene Mauro
Team Members: Sam Waggoner, Kadden Pufpaw, Lillie Rainwater, Zoey Rotenberry, Enich Guevara
- 3rd Place: Northshore High School Team A (Louisiana)
Coaches: Lynn Ruda and Dr. Dara Cadden-Kelly
Team Members: Cassidy Cadden, Nolan Vo, Bryson Scrugggs, Grace Lachney, Alternate Madelyn Ruda
- Sportsmanship Award: Navarre Beach Marine Science Station Team B (Florida)
Coaches: Charlene Mauro
Team Members: Alex Trail, Riley Craine, Lila Geus, Emory Kelly, Chloe Bransten
These ocean-experts-in-the-making are now headed to the NOSB’s virtual finals in May, where they’ll compete with top teams from all over the country for the ultimate crown. We’re sure they’ll bring their A game!
This event was powered by an amazing crew of 40 volunteers, including Sea Grant, Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVO), USM graduate students, the Center for Fisheries Development, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Tulane University, past participants and even some of the high school students. They were the real MVPs, making sure everything ran like a well-oiled ship.
The Hurricane Bowl is just one of 24 regional bowls across the nation that decide which teams will compete in NOSB. Each year, this competition fuels curiosity and ignites a passion for ocean science in the next generation of marine researchers, policymakers and explorers. Stay tuned — the ocean future is looking bright!
Meet the author
Samantha Capers
Project Manager, USM Marine Education Center
Samantha Capers is a member of our Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium Engagement and Education Team and serves as a project manager at The University of Southern Mississippi Marine Education... Read more
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