Middle school Science Olympiad team advances to state

The North Royalton Middle School Science Olympiad team placed second at the Science Olympiad Ohio Northern Regional on March 2, earning an invitation to the state competition.

The nationwide science competition, for grades 6-12, compares to an academic track meet with 23 team events. It showcases science, technology, engineering and math. Each team can bring 15 students who train for events in their skill set. Events rotate to account for the growing fields of genetics, chemistry, physics, geology and other STEM subjects.

This was the second year NRMS has fielded an Olympiad team. Co-coach Lori Krzywicki said students started studying in October and competed in two invitational events, in January and February. Fifth- through eighth-graders competed in physics, chemistry and biology.

One student competed in five events and placed in the top five in each, and the team had two first place finishes.

“As the results were read and event after event we finished in the top five, it began to sink in, the enormity of what the kids had accomplished,” Krzywicki said.

The team will compete in the state competition in Columbus in April.

Featured image photo caption: The North Royalton Middle School Science Olympiad team celebrates placing second at the Ohio Northern Regional Competition.