News Detail
Senior wins annual bridge competition for second straight year
As one stick bridge after another splintered after succumbing to the increasing weight applied to it during Ransom Everglades' annual bridge building competition, one basswood stick creation by Max Wolfensberger '26 stood out. Wolfensberger's bridge, the third-to-last of the 13 finalists tested on the Lewis Family Auditorium stage at the March 23 event, held firm, its efficiency rating climbing dramatically on the real-time rankings chart displayed on the large screen. Upper school students cheered, applauded and looked generally awestruck as it moved into first place – and kept holding strong.
For the second straight year, Wolfensberger won RE's most supercharged scientific contest. And this year, he bested his highly capable peers with a bridge so strong it exceeded the school's capacity to measure it. By the time it finally cracked under pressure, it had achieved a winning efficiency nearly double that of any competitor's bridge.
For the second straight year, Wolfensberger won RE's most supercharged scientific contest. And this year, he bested his highly capable peers with a bridge so strong it exceeded the school's capacity to measure it. By the time it finally cracked under pressure, it had achieved a winning efficiency nearly double that of any competitor's bridge.
Finishing in second place was Parker Schimel '28, one of two sophomores who made the final. Lucas Lafosse-Marin '27 earned third place for the second straight year with one of his two bridges that had advanced to the final. Sofia Mena '27 and Daniel Bry '27 finished in fourth and fifth place, respectively. The bridges tested in the final round had already withstood multiple rounds of testing, achieving efficiency ratings of 800, 950 and then, finally, 1100 before the finale. Students in engineering, physics, architecture and other classes submitted a total of 146 entries.
The highly anticipated event is enhanced with classic rock music and the energetic narration provided by physics teacher Paul Natland '02, who is helped on-stage by physics teacher Luis Luis Fayat. Engineering teacher Bob DuBard oversees the scoring and many aspects of the competition; he also ensures that the champions receive 3D printed bridge trophies.
While structural integrity was the focus of the main event, visual design was also celebrated in the aesthetic contest. Bea Hernandez '26 won first place in the aesthetic contest, which was judged by RE faculty. Lillian Liu '27 claimed second place; Aarav Jindal '26, third, and Marcus Mustad '26 (two entries), Sabine Wolfensberger '27 and Max Wolfensberger earned runners-up status. Visual arts teacher Astrid Dalins assisted with the aesthetics challenge.
Final results
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The highly anticipated event is enhanced with classic rock music and the energetic narration provided by physics teacher Paul Natland '02, who is helped on-stage by physics teacher Luis Luis Fayat. Engineering teacher Bob DuBard oversees the scoring and many aspects of the competition; he also ensures that the champions receive 3D printed bridge trophies.
While structural integrity was the focus of the main event, visual design was also celebrated in the aesthetic contest. Bea Hernandez '26 won first place in the aesthetic contest, which was judged by RE faculty. Lillian Liu '27 claimed second place; Aarav Jindal '26, third, and Marcus Mustad '26 (two entries), Sabine Wolfensberger '27 and Max Wolfensberger earned runners-up status. Visual arts teacher Astrid Dalins assisted with the aesthetics challenge.
Final results
| # | Name | Mass | Scale | Efficiency |
| 1 | Max Wolfensberger '26 | 24.79 | 147 | 2737.3 |
| 2 | Parker Schimel '28 | 11.12 | 32.8 | 1444 |
| 3 | Lucas Lafosse-Marin #2 '27 | 11.02 | 30.6 | 1366.5 |
| 4 | Sofia Mena '27 | 20.32 | 57 | 1330.4 |
| 5 | Daniel Bry '27 | 14.66 | 37.8 | 1250 |
| 6 | Hunter White '27 | 15.93 | 41 | 1241.5 |
| 7 | Matheus Dabus '26 | 12.24 | 29.8 | 1200.7 |
| 8 | Lucas Lafosse-Marin #1 '27 | 21.07 | 52.2 | 1179.7 |
| 9 | Armin Stamate '26 | 24.24 | 59.4 | 1160.2 |
| 10 | Vanessa Balson '26 | 11.47 | 23 | 1012.4 |
| 11 | Daniel Depass-Jurberg '28 | 19.73 | 41.4 | 1011.6 |
| 12 | Aaliyah Asghar '26 | 20.78 | 43.2 | 999.7 |
| 13 | Sabine Wolfensberger '27 | 24.7 | 38 | 745.6 |
| 14 | Ian Villaraos '26 | 22.6 | 28.4 | 622.2 |
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2045 South Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove, FL 33133Phone: 305 250 6850
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Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for grades 6 - 12 located on two campuses in Coconut Grove, Florida. It is rated the top private school in Miami and among the 10 private schools in North America. Ransom Everglades School produces graduates who "believe that they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it." The school provides rigorous college preparation that promotes the student's sense of identity, community, personal integrity and values for a productive and satisfying life, and prepares the student to lead and to contribute to society.
Ransom Everglades School®, The RE Way®, RE Pathways® and Bowden Fellowships in the Humanities™ are trademarks of Ransom Everglades School.
Ransom Everglades School®, The RE Way®, RE Pathways® and Bowden Fellowships in the Humanities™ are trademarks of Ransom Everglades School.