Students launch pumpkins with trebuchets

CLARENCE, N.Y., Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Teams of students from 15 New York state high schools gathered at a farm to launch pumpkins at a castle using student-designed and created trebuchets.

A trebuchet is a medieval catapult that uses a counterweight to throw a missile, usually large stones.

Orchard Park High School took home the top $700 prize for achieving a combined score of 1,027 feet while two other schools, Hamburg Central High School and Nichols School, split the $250 second prize for hitting the 9-by-11-foot castle with their pumpkins Sunday at the Great Pumpkin Farm in Clarence, The Buffalo (N.Y.) News reported Monday.

"What a perfect project for technology class -- plus you get a field trip at the end of it," farm spokesman Brian Kahle said.

Hamburg Central High School technology teacher Nicholas Zona said his school has been participating in the event for four years.

"The idea of throwing a pumpkin hundreds of feet and not getting in trouble for doing it is addicting, for both the students and me," he said.