Cap Champ
LOREN BENOIT/Press North Idaho College lab technician Mikel Buffaloe, left, and fellow lab tech Alexis Melendreras compete against each other to cap 72 test tubes as fast as they can during the second Spring 2017 Cap-Off inside the Meyer Health and Sciences Building at North Idaho College on Tuesday. Buffalo won the Cap-Off with a time of 55 seconds.
North Idaho College lab technician Mikel Buffalo reacts to winning the second annual Cap-off on Tuesday at NIC's Meyer Health and Sciences Building. Buffalo capped 72 test tubes in 55 seconds. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
COEUR d’ALENE — At the blast of an air horn, Mikel Buffaloe and Alexis Melendreras began their cap-off dance off.
The North Idaho College lab technicians were in a frenzy as they raced to place caps on sets of test tubes. Buffaloe grabbed handfuls of caps, knocking them all over the lab counter as Melendreras capped her tubes swiftly and diligently.
But alas, only one could claim the championship title of the 2018 Natural Sciences Spring Cap-off.
"You've just been capped!" Buffaloe shouted to his opponent as he emerged victorious, setting a new record of 55 seconds.
"I'm still shaking," he said after celebrating his win. "My stomach hurts from all this adrenaline."
The cap-off speed tournament has become the natural sciences division's answer to March Madness the past couple years, although it has been a tradition for much longer.
"I started doing this about 15 years ago with the work studies to make it kind of fun back here," said lab manager Dave Abshere. "We came up with the idea that we should do a spring March Madness cap-off, so we came up with the idea to do a bracket.
"I got taken out by a rookie this year," he said with a smile.
About 10 to 15 work study students and lab techs participate in the event each year, competing against each other and the clock for bragging rights. This year, the winner's name will be inscribed on a brand new plaque to be read and admired by posterity.
"I feel pretty good," Buffaloe said. "It's good to know that you're the best of something in life."
Melendreras said she felt "oh, just honored" that she made it to the championship round.
Emily Richter was in the small audience that gathered to watch the tournament.
"I got out of work early to be here, that's how important it was," she said. "I enjoyed all 55 seconds of it."