The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Pumpkins soar, teams roar at park
Third annual ‘Chunkin’ event combines fun, science for schools
“Fire in the hole!” was the chorus that rained down on Oct. 27 as 15 teams competed in the Third Annual Pumpkin Chunkin event at Osborne Park on Lake Shore Blvd.
The exclamations not only served as signals to unleash, but also to alert curious bystanders, including parents, siblings and friends, to hurriedly back away before the trebuchets — medieval siege weapons — launched softball-sized pumpkins, “gourds,” into the sky.
With the aid of their respective schools, teams built their own hurling devices. The Willoughby Parks and Recreation Department designed the Pumpkin Chunkin contest to inspire students to get enthusiastic about science and technology. A student prepares to fire his team’s pumpkin skyward using a trebuchet they built as onlookers, including Jim Clark, Willoughby Parks and Recreation Department program coordinator, in sunglasses, take it all in during the Third Annual Pumpkin Chunkin on Oct. 27 at Osborne Park in Willoughby.
Teams compete in three categories: middle school, high school and an open class group. All teams receive three attempts to produce their longest pumpkin launch.
Trophies are awarded to the team with the longest throw in each division, with a special trophy awarded to the team with the longest throw of the day.
Since the event’s debut, it’s continued to attract more participants and spectators, said Jim Clark, the department’s program coordinator.
“This is the biggest turnout we’ve had. With 15 teams, we’re pretty much at capacity. Last year we only had four teams. I think the word has gotten out.”
The trebuchets’ maximum weight is limited to 80 pounds and tops out at seven feet. The devices are powered by gravity only and cannot be equipped with springs, bands, or pneumatic-, hydraulic-, or torsion-powered components of any kind.
Clark said the trebuchets have continued to evolve over the last few years, as teams and their instructors have worked to construct more durable and efficient mechanisms.
“It’s a fun, hands-on event, but it’s also good because it and gets the students into technical development, physics, and mathematics and ratios, more so than percentages or X’s and O’s on paper alone,” he added. “That’s why the
teachers like it; it’s more than just learning physics, but applying what they learn to actual construction and execution. Then their work is featured in the competition, the only one in our region, I believe, that’s school-based.
“Plus, the project of building the trebuchets is exciting. I mean, when I was their age, I didn’t care to calculate for the value of X. And, obviously, it’s cool to watch, you know? Who doesn’t want to have a machine that throws pumpkins?”
According to the event’s rules, distances are measured from launch base to
the point where the projectile initially makes contact with the ground.
In the inaugural Pumpkin Chunkin, the longest flung gourd landed 212 feet away from launch.
Last year, the event had a team fire a pumpkin 300 feet, three-and-a-half inches.
Hoping to break the 300foot barrier again, Clark, the crowd and Team Pumpkin Chunkin Willoughby Warriors, comprised of six Willoughby Middle School students, saw just that as the team’s pumpkin hit terra firma 317 feet and four inches from launch, a new event record.
“It remains exciting and I’m glad it’s grown because these are tomorrow’s engineers and scientists,” Clark said. “It’s fun to watch them get excited.”
Daniel Triana, eighthgrade science teacher at WMS and coach of the Warriors, said he knew the team would have good launches, but added he was as surprised as they were that a new record established, and by a sizeable measurement.
“It’s amazing what a good time they have learning and enjoying the competition,” Triana said, while holding hardware the team won. “Hopefully, this event gets even bigger next year.”