Newtown Odyssey Of The Mind Teams Rise Through Competition

By Eliza Hallabeck

Newtown was represented by 17 Odyssey of the Mind teams during the state competition for the program held on Saturday, March 31, in Bristol, and two Newtown teams will head to the World Finals for the competition next month over Memorial Day Weekend.

One of the two Newtown High School teams that competed will head to the World Finals with one of the nine Reed Intermediate School teams. There were also two Middle Gate Elementary School teams for the first time this year that competed in the state level of the competition.

For the fifth grade Einstein Monkeys team — coached by Greg Martiska, Paula Martiska, Lissa Dickenson, and Steve Schmid — this year will be the team’s first heading to the World Finals level.

According to Mr Martiska the team completed the “Ooh-motional Vehicle Problem” for the state level of the competition and came in second place in the group’s division, qualifying the team for World Finals.

The “Ohh-motional Vehicle Problem,” according to Reed Division 1 Vehicle Team B coach D.J. Ledina, whose team called itself “Team C3PO,” challenged the Odyssey of the Mind teams to create an eight-minute performance surrounding a vehicle of the team’s construction that would be capable of displaying and changing emotions three times to suit situations imagined and brought to life by the team members. This year’s Odyssey of the Mind competition was Team C3PO’s first, and the team took third place in its division.

“For our problem, our long-term problem score was sixth overall for all ages,” said Mr Martiska, “and we tied for the highest style score for all ages.”

Team members of Einstein Monkeys are Erin Walsh, Aidan Schmid, Sienna Cummings, Miles Martiska, Sean Conner, Bobby Elston, and Tyler Dickenson.

“It really was a terrific competition,” said NHS Odyssey of the Mind team coach Ann Ziluck, adding, “so many teams from Newtown, too!”

For the member’s of Ms Ziluck’s team, which does not have a name, it will be a return trip to the World Finals level of the competition.

Last year’s state level of the Odyssey of the Mind competition had three Newtown teams qualify for World Finals, including Ms Ziluck’s team.

Members of Ms Ziluck’s team are Michael Ziluck, Zachary Weiland, Jacob Emmerthal, Hannah Fitzgerald, Amanda Brickner, and Nicholas Grasso.

Ms Ziluck’s team also co-sponsored the Bunny Watch 2012 event this past weekend with the Einstein Monkeys team. To read more about the event, see the related story in this week’s paper.

Odyssey of The Mind is an international problem-solving, creative thinking, and performing arts program that is offered as an after school activity. Teams of up to seven students work on solving a long-term problem throughout the school year and practice spontaneous exercises, similar to exercises in Odyssey of The Mind competitions.

Ms Ziluck said some members of her high school team are planning to work with members of Einstein Monkeys to help prepare the fifth graders with spontaneous practices before both teams head to World Finals.

“And we will be there when they perform, cheering on our local buddy team!” said Ms Ziluck.