A total of 65 teams from 14 school districts from Orange, Sullivan, Ulster, and Dutchess counties came together to compete in the Mid-Hudson Regional Odyssey of the Mind Competition (New York State Region 5) on Saturday, March 4, 2023. Orange-Ulster BOCES hosted the event at the Emanuel Axelrod Education Center on the Amy Bull Crist Campus in Goshen.
Three Pine Bush teams took first place in various problem/division combinations and are advancing to the State Tournament which will be held on April 15, 2023 at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.
Crispell Middle School took place in Where’s the Structure, Division II, while Circleville Elementary captured the top spot in The Most Dramatic Problem Ever!!! Division I. Pine Bush High School took home a first-place award for The Most Dramatic Problem Ever!!! Division III.
Odyssey of the Mind is an intellectual contest of creativity, resourcefulness, mental acuity and expression. The focus of the competition is on creative problem solving using a team approach. It is based on the concept that “mind games” can be played with as much enthusiasm and competitive spirit as athletic games.
The problems are divided into five categories that include both long-term and spontaneous problem solving. Teams are scored on a combination of points earned from long-term solutions, spontaneous solutions and style. First place winners in each problem and division will advance to the New York State Odyssey of the Mind Tournament at the New York State Fairgrounds.
A summary of local winners:
Pirates and the Treasure Div I
1 - Presidential Park Elementary, Middletown
4 - Pine Bush Elementary School
7 - Montgomery Elementary School
Because iCan Div I
1- Park Ave Elementary School, Warwick
4- Circleville Elementary School
Because iCan Div II
1 - Warwick Middle School
3 - John G. Borden Middle School, Warwick
Classics... The Walls of Troy Div II
1 - Washingtonville Middle School
3 - Valley Central Middle School
4 - Crispell Middle School
Classics... The Walls of Troy Div III
1 - Goshen High School
2 - Pine Bush High School
Where’s the Structure? Div I
1 - Pine Tree Elementary School, Monroe
2 - E.J. Russell Elementary School, Pine Bush
Where’s the Structure? Div II
1 - Crispell Middle School, Pine Bush
The Most Dramatic Problem Ever!!! Div I
1 - Circleville Elementary School
The Most Dramatic Problem Ever!!! Div II
1 - Monroe-Woodbury Middle School
3 - Circleville Middle School
The Most Dramatic Problem Ever!!! Div III
1 - Pine Bush High School