Johnstown’s senior Odyssey of the Mind team headed to World Finals …. for the fifth time!
Johnstown’s senior Odyssey of the Mind team, the “Energentic Engineers,” will be heading to their fifth World Finals at the end of May. The team is coached by Joe Naselli. Pictured left to right: Alex DeMagistris, Molly Sweeney, Tyler Hutchison, Trey Naselli, and DJ Long.
Johnstown’s Odyssey of the Mind program had a wonderful final weekend of spring break at the New York State Fairgrounds. Six teams, along with their coaches and parents, represented GJSD at the NY State Odyssey of the Mind Finals on Saturday, April 15. Students qualified for the state tournament after advancing from an earlier regional tournament.
Johnstown’s team of seniors, coached by Joe Naselli, came in third place out of eight teams. They also received a special Ranatra Fusca Creativity Award and will again be advancing to WORLD FINALS, which will be held at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI at the end of May.
Two other Johnstown teams were recognized for placing in the top six in their respective problems and divisions. Warren Street’s sixth grade team coached by Julie St. Amour and Rachel Harrington finished fifth out of 19 teams and Johnstown Jr. HS’s eighth grade team coached by Erica Parkhurst and Erin Fazzio came in fifth out of 11 teams.
The senior team – called the “Energetic Engineers” – has been competing together since elementary school. The team has placed first in the regional tournament every year since fifth grade. They have competed at the state level eight times, with four top-three finishes (first place in 2022!). This upcoming trip to the world competition will be their fifth appearance.
To see the “Energetic Engineers” perform their final long-term skit, the community is welcome to attend the District’s Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, April 26 (7 p.m.).
Johnstown senior Alex DeMagistris was also awarded a $1,000 NYSOMA Scholarship at the state tournament. Applicants were challenged to create an entertaining video that showed teams everything they needed to know about participating in an Odyssey of the Mind competition. View Alex’s winning submission here: https://bit.ly/3LiJngV
Congratulations to this very well deserving student who has been a role model for his fellow Omers, as well as a wonderful advocate for the Odyssey of the Mind program!
Kristin Meashaw, an elementary teacher in the Johnstown School District, serves as the district coordinator for the OOTM program at GJSD.
