Austin Peay's GeoClub swept the overall title and the Rock Bowl at the 2026 Tennessee Geoconclave, its second straight sweep. Ten students won six first places.

Austin Peay State University’s geology students are state champions for the second year in a row. The university’s GeoClub won both the Overall Championship and the Rock Bowl at the 2026 Tennessee Geoconclave, Austin Peay said Tuesday.

The Geoconclave is an annual contest for undergraduate geology students from Tennessee and nearby states. This year it was held in late September at Big Ridge State Park in East Tennessee, north of Knoxville.

Ten students from Austin Peay’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences competed. They faced teams from:

  • Middle Tennessee State University
  • Tennessee Tech
  • the University of Tennessee at Knoxville
  • the University of Tennessee at Martin

Two years, two sweeps

In 2025, Austin Peay sent four students to its first Geoconclave since 2019. They swept both titles. This year the club brought more than twice as many students and did it again.

“We were so excited for them and so proud of them,” said Kallina Dunkle, a professor of geology at Austin Peay. Four other faculty and staff members from the department went along to support the team, the university said.

The Rock Bowl team of Jadon Addley, Eli Harrison, Kian Murphy and Kyra James won its title in three rounds.

“I love competing. I love the academic rigor, and I like showing up and showing out for Austin Peay,” said Harrison, a senior majoring in biology and geology and the club’s secretary.

The individual results

Austin Peay students took six first places across the technical and field events. The university listed these results:

Student Event Place
Jadon Addley Mineral identification 1st
Eli Harrison Pace and compass 1st
Eli Harrison Fossil identification 1st
Kian Murphy Environmental/hydro 1st
Kian Murphy Geologic maps 3rd
Maria Prieto Rock identification 3rd
Paul Saja Men’s hammer throw, distance 2nd
Paul Saja Men’s hammer throw, accuracy 2nd
Paul Saja Men’s geode roll, distance 3rd
Maria Prieto Women’s hammer throw, distance 2nd
Maria Prieto and Lillian Grenig Women’s geode roll, accuracy 2nd
Lillian Grenig Women’s hammer throw, accuracy 3rd

The university credited the department’s broad approach. Its students study many areas of geology instead of specializing early.

What it means for you

  • For students thinking about Austin Peay: The GeoClub is open to students in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. The department’s pages on the APSU website list its geology and environmental programs.
  • For anyone curious about the science: Austin Peay’s next Science on Tap talk is free and open to all ages. Jamie Botsch, an assistant professor of biology, will speak on the insects of Iceland’s Lake Myvatn at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, upstairs at Strawberry Alley Ale Works downtown, the university said. Our things to do page lists more.