Students from all over Maine traveled to Biddeford on April 6 to compete in the Odyssey of the Mind (OM) State Tournament. With 62 students participating on ten teams, Gorham Schools were well represented during regional competitions in March.
Five of these teams advanced to compete at the state level with Gorham earning five trophies at the state competition: two first place, two second place, and one third place. The four teams earning first or second place were invited to attend this year’s World Finals at Michigan State University, however, none of the teams elected to attend this year.
Odyssey of the Mind is an international problem-solving program designed to challenge students to think creatively. Choosing from a variety of problems including technical, vehicle, classical, and performance categories, students are encouraged to think ‘outside the box’ and work together on a team.
The Great Falls Performance Team (Photo 1) delighted the audience with their colorful costumes and entertaining card game story portraying ‘Opposites Distract,’ winning first place in Div. I. The team was coached by Bethany Emerson and Matt Paul.
The Vehicle Team from Great Falls (Photo 2) also won first place in Div. I with their well-rehearsed car assembly skills and nautical themed story in ‘OMER to the Rescue.’ The team was coached by Bethany Emerson, Matt Bourgoin, and Gary Logan.
Two Div. III teams from Gorham High School (GHS) earned second place. The Vehicle Team (Photo 3) entertained the audience with a tale from the Wild West and was coached by Beth Wilkins. The Classics Team (Photo 4) created a time traveling tale of invention featuring Leonardo da Vinci and was coached by Sara Castonguay.
The Village School Technical Team (Photo 5) earned third place in Div. I with entertaining devices, including a zip line escape by a ‘flying pig’ character that stole the show. The team was coached by Jamie Racine.
Two other Gorham teams participating this year were: the Gorham Middle School Classics Team (Photo 6), coached by Jennifer Dubail, and the Narragansett Vehicle Team (Photo 7), coached by Alison McNally and Amanda Simcock.
In addition, three K-2 teams attended the non-competitive primary event for younger Odyssey students. They were: The Village Primary Team (Photo 8), coached by Julie Springer, the Narragansett Primary Team (Photo 9), coached by Kelsey Kaufman and Katie Norton, and the Great Falls Primary Team (Photo 10), coached by Christine and Daniel Emerson.
Photo credit Diane KnottPHOTO #1: First Place Performance Team, Div. I, Great Falls (left to right) Front: Eleanor Morgan, Terra Rioux, and Bella Davis; Back: Gretchen Paul, Laurel Emerson, Sawyer vonderHaar, and Patricia Waters.
Photo credit Diane KnottPHOTO #2: First Place Vehicle Team, Div. I, Great Falls (left to right) Front: Zachary Bourgoin, Jack Feldhaus, Abe Palme, Oliver Emerson, and Grant Emerson; Back: Brayden Logan and Sam Joy.
Photo credit Diane KnottPHOTO #3: Second Place Vehicle Team, Div. III, GHS (left to right) Front: Kieran Wilkins and William Stein; Back: Megan Wentworth, Jude Huckaby, Andrew Goschke, and Campbell Fowler.
Photo credit Rebecca AmbrosePHOTO #4: Second Place Classic Team, Div. III, GHS (left to right) Front: Erin Castonguay, Noah Badeau, Ethan Castonguay, Brandon Sadowski, Clara Shvets, and Sawyer Haines.
Photo credit Diane KnottPHOTO #5: Third Place Tech Team, Div. I, Village (left to right): Ryan Wheeler, Camden Curtis, Sawyer Wheaton, Tucker Curtis, Nara Holland, and Hailey Racine.
Photo credit Jennifer DubailPHOTO #6: Classics Team, Div. II, GMS (left to right) Front: Winnie Dubail, Lucy Dubail, and Libby Springer; Back: Sofia Andrade, Amelia Olaru, and Lily Beardsley.
Photo credit Diane KnottPHOTO #7: Vehicle Team. Div. I, Narragansett (left to right) Front: Tessa McNally, Elise Touch, Grace Amadon, and Nikolai Wilkins; Back: Jocelyn Clark and Addyson Simcock.
Photo credit Diane KnottPHOTO #8: Primary Team, Village (left to right): Sam Springer, Aidan Beardsley, Jack Edwards, Noah Delaney, and Emma Howe.
Photo credit Diane KnottPHOTO #9: Primary Team, Narragansett (left to right): Coach Kelsey Kaufman, Fern Kaufman, Liam Norton, Robert Brockman, Chris Amason, Tyler Sampietro, Michael Brock- man, and Coach Katie Norton.
Photo credit Diane KnottPHOTO #10: Primary Team, Great Falls (left to right): Cecelia Lewin, Charlie Littlefield, Travis Neily, Nina Joy, Amelia Palme, Nora Littlefield, and Benjamin Emerson.