• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Craig team wins Rube Goldberg contest

A Craig High School team has won the Wisconsin regional Rube Goldberg Machine Contest and qualified for national competition.

The contest recalls the cartoons of Goldberg, a 20th century inventor and author who was famous for his cartoons of machines that performed simple tasks in unnecessarily indirect and needlessly complicated ways.

The contest this year challenged students to create a machine for hammering a nail in a minimum of 20 steps.

The Craig Engineering Club chose a carnival theme, describing a day in the life of young Rube Goldberg at the carnival.

Drew Overley and Keegan Leekey were team captains. Lorin Cox and Lee Ping Ong did an excellent job presenting to the judges, said club adviser Jeff Leider, an engineering/physics teacher.

"We had great, experienced, senior leadership this year," Leider said.

Other club members are Lucas Canik, Ryan Cook, Eric DeCremer, Gavin Dillavou, Connor Jensen, Morgan Kemp, Brodie Kjornes, Ben Kubiak, Troy Lipker, Connor McMahon, Nate Mertz, AJ Miller, Miranda Mishleau, Wey Ling Ong, Lance Phinney, Levi Richarson, Carl Harmanson, Peter Zillmer.

Craig took first among 22 teams and also won the Most Rube-like Award. The club took home $925 in winnings. The money will pay for competition fees, transportation, equipment and storage, Leider said.

Janesville chemical manufacturer Evonik Degussa Corp. paid the club's entry fee this year, Leider said.

Other state high school teams advancing to the national competition are from Antigo, Waunakee, Racine St. Catherine's and Waupaca High School.

The first place was the best the club has done in its seven years, Leider said. The next best finish was third place, three years ago.

The contest was held at Waukesha County Technical College last Friday. The national competition on March 16 will be at the same place.