3 Kutztown Odyssey of the Mind teams set to compete at state tournament
Teams work together all year to put together a winning solution
Three Odyssey of the Mind teams from Kutztown School District are set to compete at the Pennsylvania State Tournament at Pocono East High School in Swiftwater on April 6.
“It is very significant to have three teams advance, one being in how hard work pays off,” Kutztown Odyssey of the Mind advisor Douglas Wunder said in a statement. “These teams work together all year to put together a winning solution. It’s an amazing effort for just eight minutes and so rewarding when your creative endeavors pay off.”
A total of five Kutztown Area School District teams, ranging in age from kindergarten through high school, competed in the regional tournament held at Millersville University on March 2.
“The most significant aspect of the program is to challenge students to go beyond conventional learning and incorporate problem solving in learning not just worrying about winning at a competition,” said Wunder.
The high school team won 1st place, the middle school teams won 1st and 2nd place, and the elementary team won 2nd place at the regional tournament. Three teams advanced to the state tournament.
“Conventional education is important, however, Odyssey of the Mind can expand educational understandings to students that do well in school,” said Wunder. “It also allows students that struggle in traditional academic methods a different approach in learning, so when we do succeed in competition it’s icing on the cake.”
Wunder said having three teams advance to the state tournament is significant because the region in which Kutztown is part of and competes in are mostly made up of school districts that use Odyssey of the Mind as part of a gifted program.
“Many of the other school’s students have to try out and have high academic marks,” he said. “The KASD Odyssey of the Mind program believes everyone should be included that wishes to participate.”
The three teams that advanced to the state tournament each performed a skit of a classic story that goes haywire on an opening
night of a stage show.
“Although a similar theme, each group came up with a completely different solution and all very clever,” said Wunder.
Of the two middle school teams, one put on a skit acting as a bunch of rock stars that took a trip to outer space and encountered aliens.
“This group of six girls posted a very high score, unfortunately just fell short a few points in the competition and didn’t qualify to the next round,” Wunder said.
The K-2nd grade team is a primary team that performs but does not compete.
“Kutztown had an amazing team of K-2nd graders performed a skit about exploring animals that wake up at nighttime. This group of youngsters were well prepaid and performed magically,” Wunder said.
“I like making my own story and seeing how it turns out in the end and then going back and making changes after I see it. And I like doing it with my friends,” said second grader Quinn Bochicchio, age 7. “It’s made me want to do more arts and crafts at home on my own outside of Odyssey of the Mind.”
“It’s fun to have a place
to be creative,” added Bochicchio.
Problem solving challenge
“Odyssey of the Mind is an problem solving program where teams from all around the world gather in a variety of tournaments and compete in front of trained judges solving the same problem,” Wunder said.
All teams are challenged from the same set of guidelines and compete within the same chosen problems. There are three divisions; elementary, middle school and high school.
Designed to help students at all learning levels grow as individuals and also as team members, Odyssey of the Mind emphasizes teamwork, budgeting, time management and public speaking. Students apply what they learn in the classroom and combine it with their interests and passions to solve unique open-ended problems, according to the program’s website, https:// www.odysseyofthemind. com/.
Wunder explained that the focus of Odyssey of the Mind is to establish a solution from a chosen problem designed by the Odyssey of the Mind directors
that is referred to as a long term problem. Teams of five to seven students have a choice of five problems. Then each team develops an eight-minute skit to solve all the requirements. The program starts in early fall and continues through most of the school year. Teams gather normally two to three times a week after school and on weekends for about two hours at a time.
“All Odyssey of the Mind solutions require teammates to create and write scrips, act, make props, sing, play instruments, build sets, design vehicles, construct gadgets, come up with clever costumes and hairstyles and anything else to enhance a creative performance,” he said.
This year students designed an alien planet set, built a vehicle with special effects, made costumes of nocturnal animals, made a washing machine with dirty laundry, created a television set with live action, designed a dragon puppet from cardboard, created everything out of duct tape imaginable, he said.
“I like how Odyssey of the Mind makes you create things that you would never think of and really challenges you to think outside of the box,” said sophomore
Joslyn Diffenbaugh, a seven-year Odyssey of the Mind participant.
She likes how there is always something for everyone in Odyssey of the Mind, whether that may be scriptwriting, making music, painting, or creating backdrops.
“Odyssey of the Mind has taught me to think outside of the box in everyday life and challenges. Overall, over the years it has allowed me to grow creatively and pursue many unique interests,” said Diffenbaugh.
Freshman Mason Erdman has participated in the program for the past five years, starting in elementary school.
“I like how unique Odyssey of the Mind is compared to other after-school activities. It allows you to be much more creative than you can typically in programs,” said Erdman. “It has a fascinating culture and history behind it, and it’s got a very individual and independent vibe to it.”
In the Odyssey of the Mind spontaneous problems, he learned skills on how to improvise. A hands-on person, the program taught him how to use many different tools and building techniques when he was young.
“Odyssey of the Mind has inspired me to be creative in my everyday life and has taught me many other skills I’ve used over the years,” said Erdman.
Fifth grader Miles Bochicchio, age 10, likes building complex mechanisms out of cardboard, rubber bands, tape and screws, then integrating them into the props to surprise the audience.
“Building things for the props really makes me curious about how other machines work. I really want to take them apart and see,” said Bochicchio. “I like that
every play has a creative side and a technical machines side and I like working with people who are good at each.”
The all-volunteer based Kutztown School District Odyssey of the Mind program consists of a coordinator, a Booster Club of four board members, one to three coaches for each team and 10 judges to help officiate at tournaments.
Primary Team Grades K-2
Coaches: Mike Merluzzi and Sara Fidler
Team Members: Reese Grivas, Jacob Merluzzi, Madeleine Merluzzi, Evan Acquaviva, Quinn Bochicchio and Annie Ziegler
Elementary Team Grades 3-5
Coaches: Brandon Krieg, Chris Bochicchio and Michelle Card
Team Members: Ajax David, Ezra O’Brien-Krieg, Miles Bochicchio, Grace Sirrakos, Juliet Sirrakos, Elizabeth Lem and Nora Merluzzi
Middle School Team 1
Coaches: Tisha Lau and Matt Zeigler
Team Members: Cash Lau, William Ziegler, Lucas Lau, Leo Johnson, Zoe Schwesinger, Liam Miller and Finn Erdman
Middle School Team 2
Coach: Doug Wunder Team Members: Arriel Creech, Willow Agiato, Arrian Creech, Lily-Ann Kline, Addie Bailey and Isla Bailey
High School Team
Coach: Nate Diffenbaugh Team Members: Joslyn Diffenbaugh, Peytan Diffenbaugh, Jillian Rager, Andrew Neuenschwander and Mason Erdman