Michigan Tech Concrete Canoe and
Steel Bridge Teams Compete in Regional Competition
By Laura Walikainen
HOUGHTON--The Michigan Tech
concrete canoe and steel bridge teams took second and fourth place, respectively,
at the annual American Society of Civil Engineer's regional conference
and competition last weekend (April 13-14).
The University's concrete canoe
team headed to the competition, held at Michigan State University, as
defending regional champions. But the trip to Lansing proved to be too
much, as the canoe was damaged in transit. The students repaired the canoe
as best they could before beginning the competition.
Despite taking first place
in the display, presentation and written paper categories, Michigan Tech
fell six points short of Michigan State, which took first. The second-place
finish was not good enough to send the MTU team to the national competition
this year.
"Our team worked really
hard this year," said Matt Bugbee, concrete canoe team captain. "We
didn't give up, and we're proud of what we accomplished.
"The students worked hard,
and the competition was very close," said Robert Baillod, chair of
the civil and environmental engineering department. "If the canoe
wasn't damaged, who knows what could've happened."
Michigan Tech was not the only
team who experienced tragedy during this year's competition. The University
of Toledo's canoe was struck by lightening on its trip to Lansing. The
canoe, having been split in two, could not be repaired. After their canoe
broke while being removed from the mold, the University of Akron competed
for fun using their last year's canoe.
The Michigan Tech team took
the speed award in the steel bridge competition by erecting their bridge
in less than three minutes. The team also did well in the loading and
deflection portions of their competition. But with the heaviest bridge
of all the competitors, weighing in at 347 lbs., MTU finished in fourth
place.
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4/18/02--MTN 033
