The student team at Dougherty Valley High School showed off their scientific prowess earlier this month by winning the 2021 National Science Bowl regional competition and have now qualified for the national finals in the spring.

The 2020 National Science Bowl champions, the Wildcats are poised to attempt a repeat and defend their title at the final phase of the nationwide academic competition that tests students’ knowledge in all areas of science and mathematics.

"The Science Bowl is a Jeopardy-like, highly competitive science academic event for teams of either high school or middle school students. An elimination format will be used in the regional competitions," officials from Sandia National Laboratories -- the regional competitions sponsor -- said in a statement.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Bowl brings together students from across the country to compete in a fast-paced question-and-answer format where they solve technical problems and answer questions on a range of science disciplines including biology, chemistry, Earth and space science, physics and mathematics.

First launched in 1991, the National Science Bowl seeks to promote the sciences among students throughout the country. Since its inception, organizers say 315,000 students have participated in the program.

Virtual preliminary rounds for all National Finalists will begin in April; virtual elimination rounds for the top 32 high school teams will begin on May 22.