The elementary Odyssey of the Mind team at Montgomery placed first in regional finals. Students who participated on the team are Jessica Bohner, Kelsey Edkins, MaKenna MaGargle, Eli Barbier, Calon Reid, Dylan Ring and Gabe Wright. The coaches are Randy and Melissa MaGargle. 

MONTGOMERY – Montgomery Area School District’s Odyssey of the Mind (OM) teams went to Berwick to compete at the Regional Level Competition on Saturday March 16. OM is a scholastic competition that makes teams think “out of the box” in their solutions to 1 of 5 different problems.

This year’s structure problem challenge was to build a 15 gram (or less) structure made of balsa wood and glue that was to be set at least 8 inches high. This structure was then rolled down a ramp, dropping to the floor and rolling at least 18 inches before being picked up by a team created device that took it to a tester board. At the tester board, weights were placed in the structure to see how much weight it could hold before breaking. In addition to the construction problem, a skit (of the teams choice) was also performed during an 8 minute time limit.

The elementary team’s structure held 535 pounds of weights and placed first. The students who participated on the team were Jessica Bohner, Kelsey Edkins, MaKenna MaGargle, Eli Barbier, Calon Reid, Dylan Ring and Gabe Wright. The coaches were Randy and Melissa MaGargle.

The middle school team’s structure held 515 pounds of weights and placed first. The students who participated on this team were Andrea Cuddeback, Samantha MaGargle, Spencer Trostle, David Bryson and Zachary Welliver. The coaches included Michael Shirey and Beckie and Terry Cuddeback.

The high school team’s structure held 515 pounds of weight and placed first. The students who participated on this team were Brenna Bogden, Megan Bryson, Ryan Kuntz, Zachary Masser, Michelle Steely, Colby Barto and Emily Winder with Craig Miller their coach.

The middle school  team's OM at Montgomery also placed first at regional finals. Students are Andrea Cuddeback, Samantha MaGargle, Spencer Trostle, David Bryson and Zachary Welliver. The coaches include Michael Shirey and Beckie and Terry Cuddeback. 

Different from the structure problem was the vehicle problem. The challenge for this problem was to build three small vehicles (no bigger than 24 by 24 inches) that would be propelled by three different power sources to transport 3 pieces each to an assembly area. From there nine pieces were to be assembled into a “pet” that when done would perform a task, that is, a sign, a dance, a move, etc. Each team had to have a visible form of a signal that had to go off before each vehicle to transport the parts. Two of the vehicles also had to preform a task on their way to the assembly area–one vehicle had to travel through a tunnel and the other had to knock over or move three cans. Also, a skit was to be included during the 8 minute time limit.

The high school vehicle team finished in third place. The students who participated in the team were Jacob Cuddeback, Tim Cuddeback, Cheyenne Lynch, Mackenzie Bitler, Emily Shirey, Rachel Wertman and Codi Zanella with Ric and Terese Willams as their coaches.

All three structure teams will be advancing to the state level competition at Mt. Pocono East High School April 13, 2013.

The high school team's OM placed first. The students who participated on this team were Brenna Bogden, Megan Bryson, Ryan Kuntz, Zachary Masser, Michelle Steely, Colby Barto and Emily Winder with Craig Miller their coach.