Corrugated cardboard and duct tape.

Those were the only materials allowed to the students who were building watercraft for the high school’s second annual boat races.

The bleachers at the pool were packed on this last day of classes before the winter break. Each student paid $1 to watch the races, with proceeds totaling $450 going to the school’s Holiday Fund Drive.

The goal for those racing – the team’s watercraft must get from one end of the pool to the other faster than their opponents. There were several heats with winners moving on to the next round.

Before the boats were even in the water, 10th grader Makenzie Caputo, a

student in STEM1 class, stood by her team’s boat, named “The Flying Dutchman.” Her team, the Goofy Goobers, had a Sponge Bob theme, and why not – he lives in a pineapple under the sea.

Makenzie and one of her teammates, Steven Gage, explained that their boat is longer than most in the competition. The enclosed front is filled with air so it won’t sink. Pretty smart, but really all of the designs were resourceful.

There were six students on each of 22 teams, all from the high school STEM,

Robotics and World of Technology classes. They drew their designs first and then built them with rolls of duct tape and 300 sheets of corrugated cardboard, which was donated by Viking Industries.

One member of each team very carefully boarded the vessel while it was in the pool. Then, they used paddle power to get to the other end of the pool. Some never made it.

The spectators loved it, cheering on their classmates and roaring with laughter and applause when a boat sank.

In the end it was the Goofy Goobers and their Flying Dutchman boat defeating team Never Lift for the coveted cardboard trophy.