Envirothon candidates showing off their medallions they won for earning 1st place in the competition.
Citrus High School Team Dominates at Envirothon, Advances to State Championship
By Student Writer: Bonnie Bunn
In their first-ever appearance at the Envirothon competition, a team of students from Citrus High School stunned the competition, securing a first-place finish in the Current Issue category and taking home the overall championship. The boys’ team, known as “The Canes,” bested 41 other schools from Pasco, Hernando, Sumter, and Citrus counties, earning a coveted spot at the state-level competition on April 5 at McKethan Park in Brooksville.
The team—Leo Delima, James Adams, Christian Raber, Silas Gill, and Carter ReinFrank—entered the competition with minimal preparation but delivered an outstanding performance, particularly in the wildlife and forestry categories.
The Envirathon is an annual environmental science competition held across the United States and Canada, testing students in categories such as soil, forestry, wildlife, infauna, aquatics, and current environmental issues. Competitors engage in hands-on activities and written assessments to demonstrate their knowledge.
“We didn’t know what to expect, and our boys’ team dominated,” said Mrs. Woodbury, the team’s advisor. “They scored more points than any other team, and now we’re heading to states. If they win there, they’ll advance to nationals in Canada.”
A Surprise Victory
The Canes’ triumph was even more impressive considering their last-minute approach to studying. Several team members admitted they only reviewed material on the bus ride to the competition.
“Completely honest, we didn’t really prepare except for on the bus,” said Silas Gill. “We did like 30 minutes of prep time on the way there.”
Christian Raber echoed this, explaining that the provided study resources were dense and difficult to get through.
“Generally speaking, my preparation was lacking,” Christian admitted. “The others and I reviewed mostly by attending our classes, like how one often prepares for an academic team. The most challenging part of the process was reading through the resources—80-page documents densely filled with information. I skimmed around two or three of them and studied what I could.”
Despite their relaxed approach, the team quickly realized they had a real shot at winning.
“It was almost surreal,” Carter ReinFrank said. “When they first announced it, it didn’t feel real. But after we won our first category, I figured we had a shot.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been so shocked in my life,” Leo Delima added. “Not because I didn’t believe in us, but because the competition was fierce. We literally jumped for joy.”
And when they found out they had won the entire competition?
“It was incredibly shocking,” Christian said. “We honestly had no idea we even had a chance to win a category, let alone win overall, so when we won, it came as a shock to all of us. It felt great, though. One of the best parts was the fact that we outdid Lecanto. It’s one thing to win for our school, but it was so much more satisfying to beat out Lecanto.”
Silas described the moment:
“We didn’t really notice at first because we were too busy celebrating our category win. But once we realized, we were all truly amazed.”
How Citrus High Got Involved
Mrs. Woodbury first learned about the Envirothon at the Florida Association of Science Teachers (FAST) convention while getting certified with the Florida Wildlife Commission.
“The presenter showed us pictures from the competition, and I thought it looked really cool,” she explained. “I wanted to offer it at our school.”
Since this was Citrus High’s first time competing, students had to take responsibility for much of their preparation.
“The students had to work on their own,” Mrs. Woodbury said. “There was a 200-page study guide they had to go through, covering topics like wildlife, aquatics, soil, forestry, and current issues. They studied on their own and just went out there and gave it a shot.”
Lessons in Teamwork
Despite their unconventional preparation, the team agreed that teamwork played a huge role in their success.
“Teamwork and collaboration are so imperative in a competition like this,” Christian said. “We decided almost every answer as a group with a vote, or if someone knew it, we took their word for it. The best part about a competition like this is that you don’t have to know everything. Having friends to fill in the gaps makes the experience incredibly rewarding but also trust-based.”
Leo agreed, saying the experience reinforced his appreciation for working together.
“Everybody has their strong suits, and we were able to complement each other’s strengths,” Leo said.
For Carter, the journey has been about more than just winning.
“I got to know more people,” he said. “At the start, I wasn’t really friends with Christian or Leo, but now we’ve bonded.”
And for Riley Watkins, a member of the girls’ team, the best memory was simply enjoying time with teammates.
“The most memorable part was getting Subway catering. We all sat down together before the results came out and joked about how we did.”
Looking Ahead to States
With their unexpected win behind them, the team is now focused on preparing for the state competition.
“We’re definitely going to study more for states,” James Adams said. “If we won without much preparation for regionals, imagine what we can do if we put in the effort.”
Christian has a clear plan for his approach this time around.
“I plan to approach states in the exact opposite way to what I did before,” he said. “Making study guides (with AI) and reading through the docs is an easy enough task to start on, and it’s likely the most efficient way to prepare for states in April.”
Silas, who has a forestry certification, believes their strategy will be key.
“We know what to expect now, so we’ll focus more on the study guide this time.”
Mrs. Woodbury is confident in the team’s potential.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we win states,” she said. “We have such a talented group of young men. I’m fully confident we can take it.”
Advice for Future Competitors
As the team prepares for their next challenge, they have some words of wisdom for students considering Envirathon next year.
“Study as much as you can,” Leo advised. “And just use common sense!”
“Honestly, just go out and have fun,” Carter added.
Christian had one last piece of advice:
“Just study and read the big documents they give out. Though it helps, simply attending your classes isn’t enough to guarantee anything,” he continued “as an aside, Myakka Fine Sand is the national sand of Florida. It sounds irrelevant, but it comes up, I swear.”
The Journey Continues
As for the most memorable part of the experience? Christian believes it’s yet to come.
“On April 5—yes, the day of prom—we get to attend the State Envirathon and see if we can win or achieve anything there. I’m looking forward to it!”
With their victory at regionals still fresh in their minds, The Canes are ready to take on the state competition. If their performance so far is any indication, they may just have what it takes to bring home another title—and maybe even a trip to Canada.