A team from Bethlehem Central High School recently placed 2nd at the New York State Odyssey Finals tournament in Syracuse and will advance to the World Finals at Iowa State University in May. Odyssey of the Mind is a problem-solving competition for students in grades kindergarten through 12 where teams work together to solve challenges in creative and innovative ways, often incorporating props, costumes, acting and humor. The BCHS team includes Jeremy Cintron Ortiz, Bridger Lewis, Stephanie Piccolo, Nex Cridlig, Rayne Beiter, and Sierra Obernesser.
The team was tasked with designing and building a balsa wood structure that could hold as much weight as possible. During a humorous performance, the structure was tested to see how much weight it could bear. The high school team managed to build a structure weighing only 14 grams that held over 300 pounds. In addition to the high school team, four teams from the middle school also competed at the tournament, with one team placing 3rd in their problem and division, consisting of Liam Singh, Katie VanApeldoorn, Owen Tarrier, James Richman, and Ann Hu.
Congratulations to all the BC Odyssey teams and the district’s Odyssey coordinator, Rebecca Beiter. For those interested in learning more about Odyssey of the Mind, they can contact Rebecca Beiter at rbeiter@bethlehemschools.org. Best of luck to the BCHS Odyssey team as they prepare for the Odyssey World Finals in May.