Local Schools to Head to State Odyssey of the Mind

The Odyssey of the Mind competition was a huge success this past Saturday at Strawberry Crest High School in Dover. The competition took all day. But with so many teams and creativity, it was well worth it.  Regional directors of the competition, Laurie and Bob Filardo of Buccaneer Bay Odyssey of the Mind, were on site to make sure everything ran smoothly.

"Things were a little hectic in the morning, but are running smooth now," said Filardo. This was the second year the competition was held at Strawberry Crest and he said it seemed to be a good match for all the participants involved.

Poster boards, huge props, and kids dressed in costume were abundant around the school grounds. The children were excited and anxious to perform the skits they have been working on from one to six months. Some were already anxiously waiting to go onto the next phase of the competition, the spontaneous problem, where they're asked to solve a problem on the spot.

A total of 350 points could be awarded during the competition. The long-term problem was worth the largest portion at 200 points. The participants could also earn an additional 50 points for style to enhance the presentation. The last 100 points were available to earn during the spontaneous problem solving.

There were competitors from six counties partaking in the day’s events.  Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, Hardee, Manatee and DeSoto counties all had teams present. At the end of the day’s competition, some teams advanced to the state competition set for April 9 at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

Many of the schools in the Bloomingdale Patch coverage area were represented last weekend including Symmes Elementary, Collins Elementary, Stowers Elementary, Buckhorn Elementary and Bloomingdale High School, The Campo Family YMCA and Progress Village Middle Magnet also had teams competing.  Unfortunately, not all of the teams could move on to the state competition.

According to fourth-grade teacher and coach of a Le Tour Guide team, Jacqueline Adkins, “There certainly was some awesome competition at the Odyssey. However, we all returned enriched from our Odyssey adventure that day!”

Among the teams awarded the opportunity to go to state are Buckhorn Elementary and Campo Family YMCA for their "Extreme Mouse Mobile" in different divisions.  Buckhorn also placed for the "As Good As Gold…berg"competition.  Both of Bloomingdale High Schools teams, A and B, are headed to state for the "As Good As Gold…berg" skit as is a team from the Campo Family YMCA. 

Top honors also were achieved by Stowers Elementary in the "Le Tour Guide"competition, Division 1, and Progress Village Middle Magnet school dominated Division 2.  Bloomingdale High School also had a team for "Le Tour Guide," Division 3, headed to Orlando.

Another Progress Village team competed in the Full Circle, Division 2, and is advancing to state. 

The awards ceremony was held in the stadium of the school where most of the teams spent the day under tents and around the track. 

“All the teams deserve to be awarded…but it is a competition, so some will move ahead” stated Filardo.