CONTINUING ODYSSEY
14 local teams advance to state finals in competition
COXSACKIE, N.Y. >> A total of 14 teams representing area school districts earned spots in the state Odyssey of the Mind finals during a regional competition March 25 at Coxsackie-Athens Central School.
A record 98 teams from schools in Greene, Columbia and Rensselaer counties gathered for the daylong competition, which featured five categories: mechanical/vehicle, technical, classics, balsa wood structure and performance. Teams were judged on their unique solutions to the problems, as well as teamwork, creativity, ability to think out of the box, and going above and beyond throughout the competition.
Of the local teams to advance to the April 8 state finals at Binghamton University, Hoosic Valley Elementary and Junior/Senior High schools, East Greenbush’s Red Mill Elementary School,
Brunswick’s Tamarac Secondary School, Averill Park High School and Troy’s School 18 recorded top scores in individual divisions, with Tamarac Secondary School winning in three separate divisions and Hoosic Valley Junior/Senior High taking a pair of events.
Averill Park’s Algonquin Mid-
dle School, Brunswick’s Tamarac Elementary School, Troy M iddle School and Troy High School also sent teams to the state finals.
Odyssey of the Mind is the largest creative problem-solving competition in the world, challenging students to work together as teams to come up with the most creative, original and imaginative
solutions to open-ended problems. Competing against same- age teams in elementary, middle and high school divisions, students present solutions they have developed and honed since fall.
For more information, including complete results from the Region 4 competition, visit www.odysseyofthemind.com.