CHS Japan Bowl winners: Chesterton High School Japan Bowl competitors came away from national competition with first and second place at the National Japan Bowl in Washington D.C. on March 26th. Pictured here are team members (front) Brandon Patterson and Melissa Dittmann, holding the team trophy. Second row, Kyle Huber, Brandie Beckett, Jenna Johnson, Emilia Blaser and Aaron Sisto. (Photo provided)

The Chesterton High School third year Japan Bowl team captured the third level championship and the fourth year team finished in second place in their division at the National Japan Bowl in Washington D.C. on March 26th.

Japan Bowl is an academic competition for students of Japanese with categories that include translations, kanji (Chinese characters), proverbs, listening and onomatopoeic expressions.

The third year team of Emilia Blaser, Melissa Dittmann and Brandon Patterson won the third level Japan Bowl, defeating Classical High School of Providence, Rhode Island and Deerfield Beach High School of Florida in the final round. Last year the same CHS team finished fourth at the national competition.

In the fourth year competition, the team of Aaron Sisto, Jenna Johnson, Kyle Huber and alternate Brandie Beckett finished in second place, behind St. Albans School of Washington, DC and ahead of Lynbrook High School of San Jose, California.

Following the awards ceremony, all the teams were taken to the Japanese Embassy for a reception where students, teachers and special guests were treated to delicious Japanese food.

Posted 4/5/2005