The Hudson Middle School Science Olympiad team closed out the season with a strong fourth place finish at the Ohio State Science Olympiad Tournament. Across 23 events, Hudson Middle School earned three second-place awards – Entomology (Jessy Xie/Sherry Wang), Heredity (Morgan Griffiths/Sherry Wang), and Machines (Anna Li/Andrew Shott).
It was one of the closest finishes for second place in recent memory: Solon Middle School claimed first with 70 points, while Mason MS finished 2nd with 148 points, Magsig MS 3rd with 154 points, Hudson MS 4th with 155 points, and Watts MS 5th with 178 points. In Science Olympiad every point matters, and the difference between second and fourth place was a matter of a couple of test questions, or a fraction of a second in a build event.
Coaches and parents stated in a media release that they were very proud of their students. The team holds tryouts on the first Monday in September and begins practicing the first Monday in October, a commitment that spans nearly the entire school year. It was an extremely successful season, with the team earning third place at the Kenston Science Olympiad Invitational, third place at the Mentor Invitational, sweeping the Allendale Invitational in Michigan with first-, second-, and third-place finishes, and sweeping the Eastern Regional Tournament at the University of Akron with first- and second-place finishes. The team also hosted the first-ever Hudson Presidents’ Day Invitational at Hudson Middle School, welcoming more than 25 teams from northeast Ohio, Columbus, Dayton, and Chicago.
Coach Chirag Patel thanked the parents and volunteers who put their time, talents, and treasures into the program this year. “We continue to be amazed by your selfless dedication to our SciOly program and the students we serve,” Patel stated.
Head Coach Jordan Renna extended gratitude to the program’s community partners and individual donors, whose generosity ensures students have continued access to an outstanding program without a cost-prohibitive registration fee.
“Thank you to Hudson Community Foundation, Burton D. Morgan Foundation, Curtiss-Wright, HB Chemical, and Hudson Kiwanis for generously sponsoring our program,” Renna stated. “Also, a big thank you to the Hudson Middle School custodial staff including Paul Kane and Linda Rolen, administrator Lucy Smetham, and Dr. Cockley for all of the help and support this year.”
The team looks forward to marching in the Memorial Day Parade in May before enjoying their summer and gearing up for another push toward the 2027 State Tournament this fall.
Award-winners included:
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: HMS Science Olympiad closes season with 4th place state finish
Reporting by Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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