Oregonian (Portland,OR)

February 8, 2008

By Mellisa Naves

Salmon Bowl - A 13-year-old from Grant High will face the state's best teens in an ocean sciences competition

As the proxy finishes reading a long-winded algebra equation, Kirben Smoody buzzes in and answers correctly.

He listens intently, fixing his eyes on the opposing team. The science bowl competition is neck and neck.

But during the round's halftime, as others in the room discuss in murmurs the mind-bending science and math questions, Kirben's thoughts drift.

In his faded, neon print MC Hammer-style pants, he rushes to the window and flicks open the shades. He hops, shouts "Whee!" and throws his arms above his mop of wavy, blond hair as snow blankets the ground at the University of Portland.

It's not the normal response from your typical high school kid, but Kirben's not that guy.

"I became aware at an early age that we had something unusual," says his father, Rik Smoody.<p>Before Kirben was 2, his dad read Scientific American magazines to him. Soon after, Kirben began echoing back the material he learned. At 5, he was able to solve algebra problems his dad made up. At 10, he began taking high school Advanced Placement classes.

And now, at 13, he's setting his sights on college next fall.

Kirben is on one of two Grant High School teams to compete in Saturday's Salmon Bowl at Oregon State University. Sixteen teams from across the state will take part in the 11th annual oceanography tournament that challenges knowledge of math, science and social science. Oregon's winner will advance in April to the National Ocean Sciences Bowl competition in Seward, Alaska.

Last year, Neah-Kah-Nie High School in Rockaway Beach took first and second place. It was the school's fourth win in a row. This year's competition features a team of youth volunteers from the Oregon Coast Aquarium and students from Astoria, Hidden Valley and McMinnville.

Not one for competitive sports, these bowls are Kirben's arena to showcase his brain's vault of random information. It's his time to shine.

"In certain settings, he's the master of his domain," his mother, Barbara, says.

At times, the part-time home-schooler's age is noticeable among his peers. Rik Smoody remembers asking his son how his physics class went one day. It was prom season.

"Oh, the big kids were all doing their mating games and we didn't do any physics," Kirben told his father.

But other times, age isn't a factor, including when he's with his Salmon Bowl team consisting of juniors and seniors.

"The other members seem to accept him," says Linda Driscoll, Grant biology and marine sciences teacher and Salmon Bowl coach. "I don't think they look to him as the holy grail."

If Kirben doesn't know something, he's obvious about it.

When he calls out an answer at the science competition and the judge shakes his head "no," Kirben sits back in his chair and shakes his head.

"Doy," he says.

Melissa Navas: 503-294-5959; melissanavas@news.oregonian.com