Mammal March Madness 2016

In honor of the NCAA College Basketball March Madness Championship Tournament, scientists from Harvard and Columbia University features an annual tournament of *simulated* combat competition among mammals. Scientific literature is cited to provide likely outcomes based on the two species' attributes within the battle environment. Attributes considered in calculating battle outcome include temperament, weaponry, armor, body mass, running speed, fight style, physiology, and motivation. 

Through the scientific information embedded in the bout descriptions, participants are educated about inter-species interactions, the importance of ecological context, how natural selection has shaped adaptations, and conservation management of endangered species. Results for each simulated combat round were done in a play-by-play style via tweets from the organizers.

The final ROAR pitted the giant forest hog against the wolverine on one side of the bracket, and on the other was wolf of the tundra versus the bison. The final game was between the giant forest hog and the wolf of the tundra. The overall champion of the 2016 Mammal March Madness tournament was the wolf of the tundra.

All 4-5-6 science students were invited to complete brackets for this event and here were our top finishers per grade level and their total points:

Grade 4
1st place – Joe Propeck (90)
2nd place – Wyatt Dickherber (82)
3rd place – Charlie Carr (68)

Grade 5
1st place – Grayson Marks (107)
2nd place – Kylie Robertson and Connor Whalen (106)
3rd place – Michael Taetz (104)

Grade 6
1st place – Eli Klasing (68)
2nd place – Ryan Fogarty (64)
3rd place – Dillon Reatini (58)

4-5-6 Overall Champion1st place – Grayson Marks (107)

A bit of humble brag here, but I finished with 138 points and took overall CDS championship honors… mainly because I picked the wolf to win it all (we did study wolves for two weeks this year people!) #TeamWolfOfTheTundra

I’m already looking forward to next year’s tournament so you should fully expect to hear about strange mammals you probably have never heard of before (like the Siberian chipmunk) once again next March!