Willowbrook Science Olympiad Team qualifies for State tournament

The Willowbrook Science Olympiad Team has qualified for the State tournament.

Coached by Willowbrook staff members Ben Fenske, Jim Kedvesh, Yvonne Tsagalis and Mike Warren, the team recently took home 6th place at the Regional competition. That earned them a bid to the 2014 State tournament, which will take place on April 12 at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

“The Willowbrook Science Olympiad Team is only six years old, however, this is the second time the group has made it to State in the last three years,” Fenske said.

Science Olympiad is a national science competition, where students compete in 24 science-related events. Students typically compete in teams of two or three in events that include test taking (anatomy and physiology, dynamic planet), lab events (forensics, chemistry lab) and building (elastic launch glider, bungee drop). Students are allowed to compete in several events.

“Our bid into the State tournament puts us in the top 48 high school teams in the state,” Fenske said. “The top two teams at State advance to the National tournament.”

For more information about Science Olympiad, go to http://www.soinc.org or http://www.illinoisolympiad.org.