LT Science Olympians head to state tourney

Identifying leaf and fossil specimens, sketching imaginary river systems, and creating chemical reactions are just a few of the typical competitions at a Science Olympiad competition. Lyons Township High School Science Olympians took 2nd place at the recent Regional contest and are headed to the upcoming state competition.

The LT Science Olympiad team has had a very success year, winning medals at every invitational and placing in the top five as a team out of around 50 teams. The team is very senior-heavy, and Science Olympiad puts a cap of seven students on the varsity roster who can compete. As a result, LT has the fortunate problem of having students who placed in the top 5 in state as juniors, who are not able to compete on the varsity squad this year.

Sophomore Parker Jeffrey, of LaGrange, built a rubber powered plane from scratch that is favored to win state, as well as a Rube Goldberg device for the Mission Possible category that is also favored to win state. LT’s Sounds of Music Team of senior John Quinlan, of LaGrange Park, and junior Michael Ibrahim, of Willow Springs, built their own instrument and are also favored to be in the top three in state. The Protein Modeling team of seniors Grace DeKoker, of LaGrange, Sebastian Ochoa, of Western Springs, and Mark Jareczek, of LaGrange Park, are also expected to place in the top three at state.

The LT Science Olympiad team is captained by senior Mark Jareczek, of LaGrange Park, Chris Hemauer, of Western Springs, Grace DeKoker, of LaGrange, and Veronica Luberam, of Indian Head Park.

Science Olympiad team rankings are based on overall performance in every event and typically a student must participate in three events. All events are groups of 2-3 and the students learn to work together to achieve a goal as well as the content of each event.

The Science Olympiad is designed to be a hands-on event that encompasses all areas of science in the same competition. Biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics are emphasized with engineering and technology applications that combine several of these disciplines. The range of testing modes includes everything from paper/pencil tests to lab practical-type events to design and building devices that require the students to calibrate devices to accomplish a goal before competition.

Daniel Babnigg 10 Countryside

Monica Busza 11 Willow Springs

Grace DeKoker 12 LaGrange

Adela Garcia 12 Countryside

Chris Hemauer 12 Western Springs

Andrew Hojjat 10 Burr Ridge

Charlie Hojjat 12 Burr Ridge

Michael Ibrahim 11 Willow Springs

Mark Jareczek 12 LaGrange Park

Parker Jeffrey 10 LaGrange

Michael Korenchan 12 Burr Ridge

Micah Lin 10 Western Springs

Sebastian Ochoa 12 Western Springs

James O'Connor 12 LaGrange

Aman Penmetcha 11 Burr Ridge

John Quinlan 12 LaGrange Park

Alternates:

Taylor Anderson 12 LaGrange

Claire Chabria 12 LaGrange

Nico Herrera 12 Brookfield

Edward Kruszynski 12 LaGrange Park

Veronica Lubera 12 Indian Head Park

Jack Nash 12 LaGrange Park

Jenna Phillips 12 LaGrange Highlands

Ben Prystalski 12 LaGrange