A talented team from Mountaineer Middle School and a highly skilled squad from Morgantown High School took top honors at the 2026 West Virginia Science Bowl (WVSB) co-hosted by NETL and advanced to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Science Bowl to be held in Washington, D.C this spring.

Schools from across the across the Mountain State were eligible for the middle school competition held Friday, Feb. 6, and the high school contest the following day. Both contests were held at West Virginia University.

The preparedness and knowledge levels of the students impressed Assistant Secretary for the Office of Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Kyle Haustveit, who attended the middle school tournament.

“The West Virginia Science Bowl was an exceptional display of talent,” he said. “It was exciting to see these students engage in a transformational experience that not only expands their knowledge in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) but also sparks a genuine interest in becoming the scientists and engineers who will secure our nation's energy future.”

The 2026 contest marked the 35th year that NETL has held the WVSB. The quiz bowl-style event is designed to encourage students to pursue excellence in their academic endeavors and prepare for rewarding STEM-related careers in energy and other disciplines.

The theme for this year’s competition was “Science: The Power Behind the Magic,” which acknowledges how STEM makes discoveries that once seemed impossible possible.

Mountaineer Team 1 from Morgantown won the WVSB middle school championship. Taking second place in the middle school tournament was Suncrest Team 1, also from Morgantown. Westwood Middle School in Westover and Suncrest Team 2 earned third and fourth place, respectively.

In the high school contest, Morgantown Team 1 took top honors. Parkersburg took second place.

Morgantown Team 2 and George Washington High School Team 1 from Charleston earned third and fourth place, respectively.

The top four middle schools and high schools received cash prizes to support their STEM programs.

NETL is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory dedicated to innovating and accelerating the nation’s energy solutions in hydrocarbon, geothermal energy and critical minerals production. With research sites in Albany, Oregon; Morgantown, West Virginia; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, NETL operates as one laboratory to create advanced energy technologies that support DOE’s mission and enable affordable, reliable and secure energy to fuel human prosperity.