MANSFIELD – Academic challenge teams in multiply counties earned championships throughout the month of March in grades 4 through 12, according to the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center.
Students competed as teams, answering questions about a wide range of topics including literature, fine arts, geography, history, math, and science.
“These students transitioned well to the virtual setting, navigating the various challenges that arose and competing with the same level of excellence,” said Leanna Ferreira, Mid-Ohio ESC’s coordinator for Academic Challenge. “Overall, I would say this season was a success though we are looking forward to the possibility of returning to some face-to-face competitions in the future.”
On March 9, the 7th and 8th grade combined teams competed. Twenty teams from Ashland, Colonel Crawford, Crestview, Galion, Lexington, Madison, Mansfield City Middle School, Northmor, Shelby, and Wooster participated. Madison’s team emerged the victor with members Aleigha Bebout, Emily Bogner, Sam Myers, Claire O’Brien, Zach Lucas, and Nathan Yarman.
The runner-up was Colonel Crawford Team B with members Jacob Bickert, Ian Gonzales, Davide Rike, Andrew Heinle, Kamden Phelps, and Braeden Grau.
On March 10, 12 teams from Crestview, Lexington, Northmor, Mansfield City’s Spanish Immersion, Shelby and Wooster participated in the 6th Grade Academic Challenge. Crestview Team A composed of Hudson Stacy, Drew Ramsey, Jess Ames and Wyatt Love won the title.
Wooster Team B came in second. Team members were Eleanor Arnold, Owen Schneider, Abigail Castellucci, and Tim Michel.
March 17, the 5th grade Academic Challenge meet consisted of 13 teams from Crestview, Galion, Wooster, Ontario, Lexington, Shelby, and Plymouth-Shiloh. Wooster Team A won the meet, featuring Hosiah Sexton, Elijah Dean, Andrew James and Noemi Bokrossy.
The runner-up was Lexington Team A with members Josh L., John H., Braelon I., and Reed C.
On March 18, 11 4th-grade teams from Crestview, Galion, Lexington, Northmor, Ontario, Shelby, and Plymouth-Shiloh competed in their Academic Challenge meet. Lexington won the match with its Central Elementary team composed of Jesse S., Ella R., Odin S., Emma S., and Noah T. The A team from Shelby of Avery Tuttle, Jax Curren, Karlie Fuller placed second.
While league play started Feb. 22 and continued on March 1 and 8, High School Academic Challenge teams concluded their season with the March 20 tournament. The top two varsity teams for both the league and tournament qualified to compete in the Ohio Academic Competition – the state level Academic Challenge competition that starts in April.
In varsity competition, the same two teams won the top spots in both the tournament and the league. Lexington’s squad of Tommy S., Maggie S., Katie S., Gavin D., Seth W. was the champion of the league and the tournament, while Mount Vernon’s team of Alaina Pullins, Jordan Treber, Bryce Ferrell, and Nick Grega placed second.
For the junior varsity level, the Lexington team won the tournament, while Ashland’s team of Gavin Knox, James Kinney, Drew Briggs, Riley Hammond, Anna Slade, and Alice Cao placed second. In league play, Ashland’s JV team of the same members placed first, and Mount Vernon’s junior varsity team was runner-up.
Members of the Mount Vernon team were Will Allar, Ethan Teet, Gannon Reilly, and Charlie Comfort.
MID-OHIO EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTER
Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center provides specialized academic and support services to 10 school districts and over 17,000 students in Crawford, Morrow and Richland Counties. Client Districts receive services from curriculum, gifted and special education consultants, speech pathologists, psychologists, special education teachers, occupational therapists and physical therapists.
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