You've been capped

COEUR d’ALENE — There’s a new Master Capper in the house. North Idaho College chemistry and physics student William Auten took home the title for the 2022 Cap Off, speed-capping competition.

“You’ve been capped!” Auten said to his worthy opponent, Aurora Reishus.

The Cap Off originated many years ago but officially incorporated a “March Madness” bracket format in 2017. The competition is the brainchild of natural sciences lab manager David Abshere. The winner — the one who caps all 72 test tubes in the rack the fastest.

“I just thought it would be fun to challenge somebody one day. So I started challenging the student workers. I think it took the first student three years to beat me,” Abshere said. “It became sort of a competitive thing.”

Competitors work their way through the brackets over the course of several weeks. About 15 competitors start the competition with the hope of seeing their name on the “Master Capper” plaque, and of course, to claim bragging rights.

The final competitors stood at the ready Wednesday at the Meyer Health and Sciences Building, nervously jittering as they waited for the foghorn to signal the start. Caps flew madly and test tubes rattled as several students and teachers looked upon the frenzy.

“I want to win! I’m competitive and I’m a sore loser,” Reishus said. Sadly, she didn’t prevail, as Auten’s caps flew a little faster and he finished the task in 1 minute, 13 seconds.

Reishus is a third-year chemistry and psychology student, who has battled it out in the Cap Off before, qualifying for the final round with a time of 1 minute 7 seconds.

Last year’s Cap Off champion won in 57 seconds, Abshere said.

“Last year’s winner gets to come back now and challenge the master,” Abshere said. “If he wins this year, he becomes the Grand Master Capper.”