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10 Pinellas teams shine at Odyssey of the Mind

The creative problem solvers will move on to the state tournament next month in Orlando.

By DONNA WINCHESTER
Published March 9, 2005

NEW PORT RICHEY - Three Pinellas County schools took first-place honors at the regional Odyssey of the Mind tournament Saturday at River Ridge Middle/High School.

St. Petersburg High, Shorecrest Preparatory and Southside Fundamental Middle School will proceed to the state tournament next month along with four other Pinellas schools and 45 Pasco and Hernando schools to compete in the annual event that encourages children to find creative and innovative approaches to problem-solving.

Saturday's competition was the first step in determining which teams will represent Florida at the Odyssey of the Mind 2005 world finals at the University of Colorado at Boulder in May.

As in past years, judges scored teams of elementary and high school students on innovation and originality and for meeting specific requirements in solving one of several problems.

In the Stunt Mobiles category, teams designed vehicles with different propulsion systems that traveled over obstacle courses and hit a balloon target. In the In Your Dreams category, children acted out dream sequences and built a "monster" that performed tasks.

Students told the same story three times using three different methods of communication for the Get the Message category, and used balsa wood and glue to build a structure weighing fewer than 15 grams in the Crazy Columns category. In the Laugh-a-Thon, children presented a humorous skit.

Division director Freda Abercrombie said 113 teams from Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando competed. Numbers were up from last year, making this the second-largest region in the state. Pinellas was outnumbered as usual, largely because the school district does not pay the teams' entry fees. "We had members who quit and the teams kept going," Abercrombie said. "We had teams whose props didn't work who creatively solved the problem on the spot and made it work. We had kids covered in glitter and glue and duct tape. It was just a hoot."

The St. Petersburg High students chose the Get the Message problem. They designed costumes and props and told their story using primitive sounds, a TV news broadcast and extrasensory perception.

The students - Alyson Walker, Tina Gromadzki, Kendyl Tash, Alison Griner, Taylor Hoel and Andrew Buskspan - have known one another for years, said their coach, Delores Walker. They began competing in Odyssey of the Mind when they attended Shorecrest Preparatory School.

"You'd think this whole OM process would get easier, but all the kids are so tied up doing volunteer things," Walker said. "They have school clubs, plus they're learning to drive. But they really want to do this, so they make time."

The students met every Sunday for a couple of months to prepare for Saturday's event, Walker said. They plan to fine-tune things over spring break so they'll be ready for the state match at the University of Central Florida on April 23.

Canterbury School of Florida participated in Odyssey of the Mind for the first time this year. One team placed fourth in Stunt Mobiles, Division 2. Another team, which will travel to the state contest, placed fourth in the In Your Dreams category, Division 1. A third Canterbury team placed fifth in Crazy Columns, Division 2, and a fourth placed 13th in Laugh-a-Thon, Division 1.

Other Pinellas schools that competed in the regional meet were Admiral Farragut Academy, Holy Family Catholic School, Northside Christian and Palm Harbor Middle School.

These schools were top Pinellas County finishers at the regional Odyssey of the Mind tournament and will proceed to the state tournament:

Admiral Farragut Academy: Second place, Stunt Mobiles, Division 3

Canterbury School of Florida: Fourth place, In Your Dreams, Division 1

Northside Christian School: Third place, Stunt Mobiles Division 1; third place, In Your Dreams, Division 1; second place, Get the Message, Division 1

Palm Harbor Middle School: Second place, Get the Message, Division 2

St. Petersburg High School: First place, Get the Message, Division 3

Shorecrest Preparatory School: First place, In Your Dreams, Division 3

Southside Fundamental Middle School: First place, In Your Dreams, Division 2; second place, Stunt Mobiles, Division 2

[Last modified March 9, 2005, 00:54:20]