BETTENDORF, IOWA (April 8, 2026) — Bettendorf High School students will be competing against their peers from Pleasant Valley, Sherrard, Riverdale, and Moline schools in the Quad City Engineering and Science Council's annual trebuchet contest 8:30AM-4PM, Friday, April 10.
This year's theme is: Spring Fling!
Each of the sixteen teams competing will be challenged to ensure their trebuchet launches accurately and consistently to score the maximum amount of points possible.
The trebuchets will be tossing large raw eggs at targets 75’, 100’, and 125’ away.
Points will also be given for the longest toss as well.
Teams will start the contest by presenting their research, design, and testing to a panel of engineers before moving to the field portion of the contest.
Each team will be given four shots at each target; two of the four shots will be counted as scoring shots.
Each team has thirty minutes to complete the field portion.
The scoring: Bull's eye — 10pts; 10' circle — 8pts; 20' circle — 6pts; 30' circle — 3pts.
Trophies will be awarded to the top three team scores combined, as well as the most innovative design.
We had a great crowd last year and expect another for this year, with a great hillside view of the event.
This event is free and open to the public.
This is one of three events sponsored by the Quad City Engineering and Science Council each year.
The overall winner of the three events, based on points, wins a $1000 dollar scholarship individually.
The top-scoring school from the three contests wins a traveling trophy and bragging rights.
If the contest has to be postponed due to rain, the rain date will be determined for the next week.
