Several junior-high students from Watseka competed at the State Science Olympiad Competition at the University of Illinois. The local team members finished 14th in Class A competition (Saturday), bringing home medals in three events and three more medals in Trial events.  The team also had top ten finishes in Disease Detectives, Dynamic Planet, Fossils, Mission Possible, Road Scholar, Tower, and Wind Power.

Ellie Simpson and Sophia Mohler earned the highest finish, bringing home a 4th place medal in Meteorology. Earning 5th place medals were Addison Morris and Seth Wittenborn in Science Crimebusters and Betsy Newell, Seth Gowler, and Noah Irby in Experimental Design.

In the Trial Events, Garrett Hess and Canaan Curtis worked together to earn a 3rd Place in Remote Sensing and 4th Place in Ag Science. Annabeth Rippe and Shannon McQuinn took 3rd Place in Botany.

"The competition level is tough at the state level and to be able to come home with a few medals is always a goal. We are proud of how well this group did despite having an unusual last couple weeks with spring break and state testing playing havoc on our preparations. We are a young team and our 6th and 7th graders got valuable experience for next year." - Coach Troy J. Simpson

Team Members include: Addison Morris, Betsy Newell, Kate Sabol, Ellie Simpson, Drake Stumpfol, Bryce Wesley, Kale Gerdes, Seth Gowler, Brookelyn Hoppe, Noah Irby, Trevor Martin, Sophia Mohler, Law Rigsby, Seth Wittenborn, Andrew O'Brien

Alternates: Lucie Edwards, Canaan Curtis, Garrett Hess, Quinn Butzow, Tryson Guynn, Alyvia Jeglinski, Kade Legan, Shannon McQuinn, RJ Peters, Annabeth Rippe

The team is coached by Troy J. Simpson, Ashley O'Brien, and Nick Harvey.

94.1 WGFA