Science Olympiad Teams Compete, One On to States
Posted on 03/31/2025
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MASD was well represented at the annual Central Pennsylvania Science Olympiad competition this spring at Millersville University. Our middle school team, part of the Olympiad’s Division B (students in grades six through nine), placed fourth overall and was one of four teams to be crowned as a regional finalist. With the fourth place finish, the team qualifies for the state competition scheduled for Saturday, April 26, at Penn State Altoona. The high school team, who competed in Division C, placed seventh out of 22 teams overall, and narrowly missed moving on to the state competition.
Science Olympiad competitions are structured like academic track meets, consisting of a series of 23 team events in each division. Events are rotated annually to reflect the ever-changing nature of genetics, earth science, chemistry, anatomy, physics, geology, mechanical engineering and technology.
Middle school team members (pictured below) include ninth graders Emily Atunca Jack Doran, Elise Freeman, Liz Hayes, and Mark Paumer; eighth graders Declan Bechtal, Joey Berry, Adrik Conrad, Logan Deardorff, Bryce Foose, Patrick Muller, Alex Murchall, and Casey Sharp; and seventh graders Paige Berry and Alyx Carnes. The team is coached by gifted education teacher Mr. Trevor Davis.
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High school team members include seniors Ellie LeKites, Cassidy Pomraning, and Tyson Bomberger; juniors Zoe Handwerk, Kyle Kinsey, Addison Mowl, Rashi Patel, and Eyassu Yosedik; sophomores Jillian Hess, Benji Lewis, Xavier Murphy, Daniel Orris, and Derek Sheaffer; and freshman Seth Thomas and Norah Wooddell. Mrs. Jody Wenrich, a high school science teacher, is the coach of the high school team.
Team members who won individual awards in events are listed below. Photos of award winners can viewed in the photo gallery.
Individual Awards - Middle School
Joey Berry and Adrik Conrad - 2nd place, Air Trajectory
Mark Paumer and Paige Berry - 4th place, Disease Detectives
Logan Deardorff and Alyx Carnes - 4th place, Meteorology
Elise Freeman and Casey Sharp - 4th place, Helicopter
Liz Hayes and Elise Freeman - 4th place, Crime Busters
Adrik Conrad and Declan Bechtal - 4th place, Potions and Poisons
Individual Awards - High School
Addison Mowl and Eyassu Yosedik - 5th Place, Astronomy
Ellie LeKites and Kyle Kinsey - 4th Place, Entomology
Eyassu Yosedik and Addison Mowl - 4th Place, Geologic Mapping
Rashi Patel and Jillian Hess - 5th Place, Robot Tour
Rashi Patel, Jillian Hess, and Benji Lewis - 5th Place, Code Busters
Derek Sheaffer and Norah Wooddell - 5th Place, Ecology
Science Olympiad is a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of K-12 science education, increasing interest, opportunity and diversity in science, creating a technologically-literate workforce and providing recognition for outstanding achievement by both students and teachers. These goals are achieved by participating in Science Olympiad tournaments and non-competitive events, incorporating Science Olympiad into classroom curriculum and attending teacher training institutes.