The Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School Knowledge Master team ranked third in the world during competition this week.

Team coach Dixie Cook said the competition has been expanded to include schools in Japan, Korea and Canada. "When I called for our results they told me we were third in the world," Cook said.

Knowledge Master is an academic competition played on computer. Students answer 200 questions from a variety of subjects and get bonus questions for answering questions quickly.

The junior high team has traditionally done well in the competition.

The team had a score of 1744 of a possible 2000 points. They answered 194 of the 200 questions correctly.

The top school in the nation was Lawrence, Kan. with a score of 1766. The number two team from Wisconsin earned 1757 points.

The second place Missouri team, from Columbia had a score of 1,376.

Cook explained that the team has often ranked near the top nationally in the competition. "We have been first three times, second a couple time and third a couple time, she said. "Third is great."

Cook said the questions are very difficult.

"We had excellent team work," she said."That's the key. They are amazing."

Member of the team include ninth graders Jessica Anderson, Michael Clayton, Andy Fiehler, John Hearnes, Jennie Lukens, Eric McGowen, Josh Miller and Sabrina Renka.

Eighth graders Jason Azuma, Stan Clark, Casey Cook, Jim Fox, Rob Giles, Gabe Hart, David Hearnes, Aaron Hessenkemper, Abram Jackson, Saki Ligonis, Todd Matzat, Matt Payne, Swen Rainey, Greg Sadler, Emily Trueblood and Jody Wagner.

Seventh graders David Linden, Dustin Gross and Trent Redfearn.