BCHS Odyssey of the Mind team qualifies for World Finals with NYS win

group of students smiling — NYS Championship Team – Odyssey of the Mind Balsa Wood Challenge

With a first-place finish at the New York State Odyssey of the Mind tournament, a team of students from Bethlehem Central High School has earned a spot at the Odyssey World Finals at Iowa State University in May. It is the third year in a row that the high school team has qualified for the World Finals.

The NYS championship Odyssey team includes Rayne Beiter, Jeremy Cintron Ortiz, Nex Cridlig, Nicholas Folio, Bridger Lewis, Erica Piccolo, and Stephanie Piccolo.

Odyssey of the Mind is an international problem-solving competition for students in grades kindergarten through 12. Odyssey teams work together to solve challenges in both traditional and non-traditional ways, often incorporating props, costumes, acting and humor.

The BCHS team was challenged to design and build a balsa wood structure that could hold as much weight as possible. The structure was tested during a humorous performance to see how much weight it bears. The high school’s team built a structure weighing only 15 grams that held over 634 pounds!

Six other teams from the middle school and high school also competed at the New York State Odyssey tournament, held in Syracuse on Saturday, Mar. 21. All teams had a strong showing at the state tournament. A total of 11 Bethlehem teams had competed regionally to earn a spot at the NYS Odyssey Finals. Only teams finishing first and second at the regional tournament advance to state competition.

Congratulations to all of our Odyssey competitors and to faculty coaches Rebecca Beiter, Sarah Genovese, and Lisa Peters. Student coaches are Ann Hu, Jackson Miller, and Sierra Obernesser.

Elementary families interested in starting an Odyssey team next year are encouraged to contact Rebecca Beiter at rbeiter@bethlehemschools.org. Elementary teams are coached by parent volunteers.