Six Montgomery children are getting ready to represent Montgomery at the Odyssey of the Mind World Competition next month. Fifth grade students on the Division 1 team are Alexis DeSantis, Peyton Hartman, and Chloe Wagner. Third grade students are Camden Dalrymple, Ava Hartman, and Katie Webster.

The team coach is Randy Magargle, who has been an Odyssey of the Mind coach at Montgomery for the past decade. He told me he was inspired to help out with the program when his daughters got involved eleven years ago. He said as a parent who had a child that wanted to be involved with the program, he found there was a serious lack of coaches, and he decided to help out. “Our whole family fell in love with the program . . . My two daughters are still in the program. One is on the high school team and the other on the middle school team.”

Randy said he stuck with Odyssey coaching elementary because he enjoys watching the kids develop into a team. This year’s team will be the fourth one that Randy has led to the World Competition.

Odyssey of the Mind is a world-wide program that allows young people from kindergarten to college to solve problems and use creativity in a variety of challenges, from building mechanical devices, structures, and interpreting classic stories and literature in their own way.

Randy described the challenge this year’s team faced. “The team received a problem that they had to come up with a solution to at the beginning of the season.” Over the past several months, they had to create an eight-minute skit that solves the problem as well as creating props and costumes. Their problem this year was called ‘Ready, Set, Balsa Build’ and they were to demonstrate precision. During their performance they built an 8 foot structure from Balsa wood and glue. It weighed no more than 15 grams, which is the weight of 15 small paper clips. The structure had weights placed on top to see how much it would hold.

The team began working on their problem in October and went to Regionals in March. They took first place out of four teams, with their balsa structure holding 465 pounds. The team moved up to the State Competition earlier this month and came in second place out of 12 teams with their structure holding 638 pounds, which earned them a spot in the World Competition. Leading up to the World Competition, the team met once a week to refine their balsa structures, props, and skit.

The World Competition will be held at Michigan State University and more than 825 teams will be competing from thirteen other countries. The team, the coach, and parent chaperones will be driving to Lansing, Michigan on May 23rd. They will stay in dorms at the University. Randy said that when his team isn’t competing they will have time to visit with other teams from around the globe, watch other teams compete, and trade pins. He also said they will see a variety of exhibits from different states and countries that will provide interaction, so they can learn about other cultures. NASA will have displays as well.

The team is currently in the process of raising $10,000 to get to worlds. They will be holding multiple fundraisers in the next few weeks around the area. Please watch for events they are holding in April, and May. A silent auction will be at the Mountain Tavern on May 5th and 6th, and a Burger Burn will be at Horsepower Harley Davidson on May 13th.

Donations can also be made to Randy Magargle by contacting him at rmagargle@gmail.com or at 570-494-8622.

• THOT “I will prepare and someday my chance will come.” Abraham Lincoln

Montgomery events:

Thur. Apr. 20 Sign-ups for the Montgomery Area Independent Football League will be held from 6-8 p.m. in the Brady Township Municipal Building. The program provides football, flag football, and cheerleading for elementary-aged students in the Montgomery Area School District. New players must bring a birth certificate. Additional sign-ups will be held May 8th and 21st.

Fri. Apr. 21 A Father Daughter Dance will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the M.A.H.S. cafeteria for girls from Pre-K to 6th grade. Pictures and a photo booth will be taken for an additional fee. Formal dress isn’t required. The dance is a fundraiser for Montgomery’s Odyssey of Mind team that is going to the OM World Competition.

Sat. Apr, 22 The Great Black Hole Creek Clean-Up will begin at Hulsizer’s Chevrolet at 9 a.m. Volunteers are needed and will be provided with gloves and bags. Contact Becky Sanguedolce at 570-547-6289 with any questions.

Sun. Apr. 23 St. John’s Lutheran “Brick” Church will recognize members of the congregation in the 8:30 am service who have participated in these ministries: The Chancel Drama, Puppet Ministry, Alter Guild, Brick Church Women, Candy Making Group, Funeral Dinners, Monthly Dinners, Lap Robes, Prayer Shawl Group, and Home Bound Meal Ministry.

Mon. Apr. 24 The Clinton Township Supervisors will meet in the Municipal Building at 6:30.

Fri. Apr. 28 Odyssey of the Mind will hold a Burger Burn at Sam’s Club from 5-7p.m to raise funds for their trip to the OM World’s Competition.