Downey High team sweeps Solar Cup

DOWNEY – A team from Downey High School competed for the first time in the Metropolitan Water District’s Solar Cup last week and ended up sweeping the competition.

The Solar Cup is the nation’s largest solar-powered boat competition. This year, more than 800 students from 41 schools competed to build and race 16-ft., single-seat canoes powered only by the sun.

Under the tutelage of engineering teacher Glenn Yamasaki, Downey’s 13-member team took first place in the 200-meter sprint, first place for public service, and second place in the 2-kilometer solar-powered endurance race.

The competition was held May 15 at Lake Skinner in Temecula.

Downey High's solar boat team included Samantha Villagram, Juliam Romero, Adriana Cardenas, Allan Saghbini, Amar Singh, Thomas Yabe, Dani Figueroa, Belen Almaraz, Guillermo Rodriguez, Hannah Rodriguez, Timone Weale, Spencer Farina and Jesse Marciano.