The Lincoln Log

Health Idol started off with a logic and flexibility test. The logic test consisted of one of the popularly growing Sudoku puzzles, while the flexibility test was a simple sit and reach.

This year freshman Sandy Lee won the Logic Award. She completed her puzzle in four minutes, even though she neglected to fill in one square. Lee may have excelled in this challenge, but it wasn’t as easy for other competitors. Some competitors, such as senior Jennifer Amaechi, fell asleep while filling in the number puzzle. This caused her to be eliminated from the competition.

Wellness Center Coordinator Jennifer Kenny-Baum took the title for the Flexibility Award. She managed to stretch an amazing 18 inches. Some of the taller candidates had difficulty reaching the standard passing mark of 12 inches, such as earth science teacher Andy Talaroski, who reached 11.5 inches and sophomore Aaron Mott, who stretched only six inches. Two others also failed to meet the 12 inch mark; they were both female body snatchers.

In the second round of competition, the remaining competitors took a personality and lung capacity test. None of the personalities were considered better than each other, but it was rather a test of who was more balanced positively. In this round, the male seniors dominated the competition. The winner of the Personality Award was senior Gregory Jew who was well balanced. Senior Winfield Ye hit a perfect score on the lung capacity test on all three tries. Although some male contestants excelled during this portion of the competition, a male student junior Michael Cuadra was eliminated.

For the first time in Health Idol history, the competitors worked in groups as a challenge. They formed teams where they locked arms and had to rely on each other to detangle themselves. The two fastest teams both held Jew, who won this portion of the competition as well as the second part.

The competitors tested their physical upper body strength by doing pushups. Jew managed to complete over 139 pushups, but did not exceed last year’s record of 180 pushups, completed by Daniel Jahangard, a student from the class of 2006.

At the end of this event, sophomore Sara Jay and Eshai De La Cruz were both eliminated from Health Idol.

Currently competitors are being tested on social support and their blood pressure level. Supporters, including all faculty and staff, can come to the Wellness Center in order to vote for who they believe is the healthiest of the competitors. To find out who wins each round and who is eliminated, go to the Hino Garden where the competition takes place every Friday at lunch.