Watseka Junior High students earn accolades in Science Olympiad Competition

                                             State competition at U of I is next ...

The Watseka Glenn Raymond Junior-High students shine again  in Science Olympiad Regional competition.  The team won 2nd Place for a second straight year, earning medals in 19 of 23 events.  The JV team also finished 2nd bringing home four medals. 

Coach Troy Simpson said, "Can't say enough about how well our students prepared and filled in events where we needed them. We have a young team and weren't really sure how things would go. Our three 8th graders really helped set the tone, giving the 6th and 7th graders the needed encouragement for their events. We are looking forward to the opportunity of returning to the U of I and seeing what we can do against the best in the state." 

Saturday's Illinois Science Olympiad Regional was at Parkland College in Champaign.  The State finals are April 20 at the University of Illinois.  

Varsity Event Champions:

Flight and Wheeled Vehicle - Caleb Mustered and Elijah Heeren
Crimebusters - Owen Swartz and Addison Morris
Fossils - Elijah Heeren and Ellie Simpson
Reach for the Stars - Ellie Simpson and Stevie Harris
Tower - Caleb Mustered and Kale Gerdes
Wind Power - Stevie Harris and Kale Gerdes

JV Event Champions:

Dynamic Planet - Connor Harris and Andrew O'Brien
Fast Facts - Trevor Martin and Andrew O'Brien
Microbe Mission - Bryce Wesley and Trevor Martin
Wheeled Vehicle - Bryce Wesley

The team also earned the Regional Spirit and Sportsmanship Award for displaying overall sportsmanship and spirit of the competition.

The Science Olympiad Team consists of 15 Varsity team members and 10 Junior Varsity members. Team members then meet with individual coaches before and after school as they master up to 6 different events. The team is coached by science teachers Troy J. Simpson and Ashley O’Brien and high school math teacher Nick Harvey.

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