2014 Science Olympiad States

[Ride On_17]

As many you have probably known from some of my previous posts, the Mentor High School Science Olympiad qualified for States held at OSU. Well, for over the past month we have been working extremely hard and have put in many hours of studying, testing, and meeting with teammates. Yesterday, April 26th, was the big day. Finally we would be able to show off our hard work, and hopefully qualify for Nationals which is in Orlando this year.

Every year, the team leaves school around 9am the Friday before States. They stop for lunch about a half hour away from Columbus and then go to the campus for several hours to walk around and find the rooms and buildings for everyone's events. Then they go to the hotel to unwind, then get dinner, study, and get ready for the big day to follow. Well, 4 of us including me and one of our co-captains would not be able to go down with the team and do all of this because of States for both the Wind Ensemble band the the Concert Mixed choir. Band States was at North Royalton High School, and the Wind Ensemble left school about a half hour early to go there. We performed the best we have done (we got a 2, the second highest rating you can get) which is good, considering this was States. Right after our sight reading portion of States since this was the final portion, me and one other person who is also in Science Olympiad changed and my mom drove us 20 minutes away to Highland High School in Medina where choir States was held. We got there just in time to watch 2 out of Concert Mixed's 3 songs and they did amazing. As soon as they finished their sight reading portion, and waited around just a little bit to find out their rating (which was a 1, the best you can get!) we took two choir people who are in Science Olympiad with us and headed for Columbus. First we stopped just down the street at Wendy's to grab some dinner and then left for Columbus. We got to the hotel around 10, just in time for room checks. We heard that the day had gone well for everyone, except the middle schools had a little issue. The middle schools had 2 buses since each of the three middle schools qualified for States as well. Well, during a section of construction on the way down to their hotel, luckily traffic was moving sort of slower than usual. A car cut off the first bus, which had to slam on its brakes and caused the second bus to rear end the first. Thankfully everyone was fine but that must have been a rough way for the middle school teams to start of their States adventure. But the high school team had a pretty uneventful ride down and had dinner at Steak'n'Shake before studying.

The next morning, the day of the competition, breakfast was at 5:30 am and the buses left at 6. 20 minutes later we had arrived on Ohio State's campus. We first went to our homeroom to get everything unloaded and situated and also to get our wristbands, which signified throughout the day that we were a part of the Science Olympiad events. Even though I would only be doing one event, Geologic Mapping, I was thankful to even be on the States team since only 15 people out of the normal 40ish people from my school who do Science Olympiad get to go. my event wasn't until 1:45 so I had all day to explore. Even though I had just been to OSU last weekend for the Spring Exploration Day, my mom and I were excited to walk around campus again. We love it there.

After making sure everything was situated and good to go with the team, my mom and I headed over to North Campus. All of a sudden we see one of last year's Science Olympiad co-captains so of course we had to go say hi. This campus really does get small quickly, since whenever we are there, we always seem to randomly run into people we know. After talking for a little bit, my mom and I headed to Buckeye Donuts to get some both for the team and a few for us to take home with out. Then we went back to my mom's car which was sort of by the Horseshoe and the French Field House to drop off our donuts before going back to the homeroom to give the team their donuts. Everyone loved them and were very appreciative. My favorites are the Apples and Spice, Buckeye (chocolate and peanut butter), and the bacon cream filled maple glazed (yes, it might sound strange but it is delicious).

Next we walked all around. It was cool and there were occasional rain showers but we had checked the weather the day before and it was supposed to warm up eventually. Soon the sun started to peak out, it stopped drizzling, and it got up to around 70 degrees. It was a perfect day. Slowly as it got later, more and more students were waking up and were around campus. We decided to walk over to RPAC (the Recreation and Physical Activity center). We have never been inside the aquatic center and weren't sure if it was open to the public, but we wanted to see if it was. Sure enough, it was open. That place is amazing. It is a giant, new facility. The men's and women's swim teams were practicing so watched for a little while but walking around the areas that were open to the public. After this, we went to the West Campus near the towers and stadium. There was what looked like some informal, friendly soccer game going on as well as some sand volleyball games going on by RPAC. It was great to see so many people outside enjoying the nice weather. We went along the Olentangy River and walked across the pedestrian bridge over it. They were working on some wetland project that was converting a little portion of the river along the opposite bank into a wetland.

From there e went to the Thompson Library and went up to the 11th floor, as usual. We never miss the chance to go up there. Both my mom and I had grabbed a copy of The Lantern, the school's student newspaper, and we read it while finding a nook with comfy chairs overlooking the Oval. The Oval still wasn't too busy yet but there were a few people hanging out there.

It was time for lunch, so we wanted to try out a place we heard was really good along High Street, Raising Cane's chicken. Their food was really good. The chicken was delicious, and their special sauce was amazing. I can't really describe it, but it was creamy with a little kick. We were impressed by it and said that it's a place we'd go back to. Starbucks was our next stop, and since I was getting warm I felt like something light and refreshing so I got a strawberry Frappucino. We then walked through the Union and just explored some more areas around campus. Eventually we ended up at the Oval and it was busier than before as it was expected. Usually we would have sat on the ground, but it was still a little wet from that morning's rain and we didn't have any blankets so we found a bench nearby and just sat and watched everyone.

It was a little after 1 by this point and I needed to go back to our homeroom to get supplies for Geologic Mapping and to go to my event room. We caught up with some of the teammates on how the day has been going for them, we we heard nothing but positive answers. Everyone was feeling very confident which was a good sign. My event was no exception. My partner and I felt like we did a great job, but we were concerned about the test. It was very short and easy which may sound like a good thing, but with Science Olympiad you want it to be anything but. This means that likely many other teams also found it short and easy, so the competition will be higher. If you miss one point in an essay, that could already drop you down several placings is the event coordinator decides to give just a 1/4 or a 1/2 point higher to another team. But we felt great about it and left happy. Since that was my one and only event and there was still a little time before we had to load the buses, I met up with my mom again we wanted to go into the 18th Street Library, which we had never been in before. It is 4 stories and is open 24 hours, so it's the place to go to get some last minute cramming in during the middle of the night. There wasn't a seat to be found, especially on the 4th floor, the quiet level. Everyone was focused and concentrated on studying for finals. back to the Oval. By now it was pretty busy there, and we could see why it gets is nickname the Oval Beach. Lots of people were tanning on beach blankets, guys had their shirts off, girls were in bikinis and bathing suits, people were throwing balls and frisbees around, and everyone was just enjoying the warmth and taking study breaks.

Then we had to go back to the homeroom to start packing everything up. We loaded the buses and as soon as the last time slot was over, we boarded back on the buses to go about 15/20 minutes away to an Olive Garden. It's a team tradition to go here every year for dinner at States before the awards ceremony, but I'm not a fan of it since we're always rushed on time. Last year the awards just started when we were running in. We had called ahead so they kept a large area open just for us, and it was a little after 4:30 when we arrived. Awards were scheduled to start at 6:30. This may seem like more than enough time, but serving 20-25 people quickly in a crowded restaurant on a Saturday night in Columbus is not something that can be done in under 90 minutes. The goal was the leave by 6. It took a long time to get drinks and food (which is understandable) but we were definitely rushed. I wasn't very hungry due to my big lunch not too long ago so I just had salad and breadsticks which was very good. We ended up leaving a around 6:15 but made it back on campus for awards just in time.

Awards started with everyone on the team feeling confident and excited. We were all very hopeful that we knocked out either Solon or Centerville to claim the 2nd place spot, which would qualify us for Nationals. All day events had gone pretty well for the most part. Well, after the first several events, everyone's mood shifted. Awards at States are given out to the top 6 places, and we were receiving many 4th-6th placings, and several events we did not even place it at all. Don't get me wrong, this is a great accomplishment since this is out of roughly 40 teams from all across Ohio, but in order to beat Solon and Centerville, our goal is to average 3rd or better in every event. I did not place in Geologic Mapping which was really disappointing. We figured it must have been close, and that were only several points behind the other teams. I had a feeling this might happen, but it was still upsetting since my partner and I had worked so hard and we felt great about the test. We have placed first before, and during the recent online invitational hosted by a school from Hawaii, we placed 4th out of all the national teams that competed. Hardly any of our events at States was in the top 3. It just wasn't happening. Nobody knew what had happened. We all had felt so confident about the day, and we were not just getting complacent following our success at our last invitation, West Liberty Salem. We all had truly worked hard and were serious about getting to Nationals. I guess it just isn't out year. Even thought we all felt like this had been out best States yet, it really wasn't. When it was time for the final team awards, we came in 3rd place behind Solon and Centerville. It was disappointing since we had worked so hard and felt so good about qualifying this year, but we will just have to come back next year even better. Interestingly we did a lot worse than our 3rd place finish last year, despite last year a lot of people said they didn't think the day went well while this year almost everyone said the day was great. Oh, well. Even our middle schools did not do as strong as they usually do. Memorial, who went to Nationals for the middle school division, placed 4th this year. Solon and Magsig (a Centerville middle school) qualified for Naitonals from this division. Congratulations to Solon and Centerville for a great job and domination in both divisions!

Nobody had their heads down, though. Yes, we were disappointed that we would not be going to Nationals, but we had a great season. On the bus ride home we already started talking about next year. I will miss the seniors, but I have a feeling that next year will be our year to shine. Our last trip to nationals was in 2009 and we all want to make 2015 the next.

Pictures to come in following posts.

[jcgoble3]

Great report! As long as you guys tried your best, that's all that matters.

so I got a strawberry frappucino.

Frappuccino is a registered trademark of Starbucks, and as such, is always capitalized.

[DBInternational]

Great report! As long as you guys tried your best, that's all that matters.

so I got a strawberry frappucino.

Frappuccino is a registered trademark of Starbucks, and as such, is always capitalized.

Really? I had no idea about that. Guess ya learn something new every day.

[Ride On_17]

I love how beautiful OSU's campus is, especially once everything starts to bloom.

The amphitheater:

The scholars and honors house:

The Thompson Library (in sort of artsy ways):

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In the aquatics center:

This place is massive and is really cool.

Looking at just a tiny little part of RPAC:

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The university recently planted many new Buckeye trees.

Buckeye Grove is in the foreground, one of the two towers in in the back:

Looking north along the Olentangy River while on the pedestrial bridge, and the area to the left of the picture is where the wetland project is:

Ohio Stadium:

Looking towards RPAC:

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The Thompson Library:

Downtown Columbus:

Looking out toward the Oval along with some pretty flowers:

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Lunch at Raising Cane's:

This is next to the 18th Street Library. I thought it was a cool view.

Waiting for awards to start in the French Field House:

Team picture, along with some alumni who go to OSU and stopped by:

[DBInternational]

OSU's campus is so beautiful.

[Ride On_17]

It really is. That's one of the reasons why I want to go there.

[coasterfanatic83]

Where did the competition events take place on the campus?

[Ride On_17]

All over campus. They ranged anywhere from the French Field House to Jennings Hall and many other places. My event, Geologic Mapping, was in Smith Lab.

[thedevariouseffect]

Ah look at those tuitions..er..buildings, very pretty

[BoddaH1994]

There's something oddly familiar about this meal...

[Ride On_17]

When I go to KI in a few weeks I plan on trying the Chicken Shack. I'll have to compare it to Raising Cane's.