Science competition returning to Wantagh

More than 650 of Nassau County’s youngest scientists will converge on Wantagh High School on Jan. 30 for the Science Olympiad regional competition.

Forty-four teams from 22 high schools in the Nassau East region will participate in a variety of events that run the scientific spectrum. This is the second year Wantagh High is hosting the competition. “The first year went surprisingly smoothly,” said Rich Colavita, adviser of Wantagh’s Science Olympiad team. “We’re going to run it as close to last year as possible.”

Colavita said it was the “little touches” that made last year’s event a success including providing everyone with a nice lunch, and bringing back the spirit award. He also said that experienced coaches from other high school teams, as well as his colleagues in the Wantagh science department pitched in. “Preparation made all the difference,” he said.

There are 25 events in the Science Olympiad, and a regional competition must feature at least 20. Last year was the minimum, but Colavita said that will grow to 23 this year.

The building will be open to the public, and several of the events will welcome spectators, particularly those in which students compete using machines they have been building for the past few months.

Popular events include the Wright Stuff, in which students fly rubberband-powered airplanes; Air Trajectory in which they fire a projectile from a cannon at a target; and Bridge Building, in which weight is continually added to a wooden structure until it breaks. “What’s enjoyable is different for these different events,” Colavita said, adding that, for example, bridge-building has the element of suspense.

Many of the engineering events will take place in the gymnasiums, while others will be in science classrooms. “It’s large enough without being too big,” he said of the School being a good facility for Science Olympiad. “There is enough space for everything, but no one’s getting lost.”

This year, Wantagh will have three teams totaling 45 students in the competition. There is also a spirit team that will make posters and T-shirts featuring the team’s abbreviated name, Tagh SciOly.

Colavita said that Wantagh does have a slight advantage in that they can test their machines in the same rooms where the competitions will be held. But winning is no guarantee, he explained, with the stiff competition that exists.

MacArthur High School Science Olympiad adviser David Friedman said the 30 students on his two teams are looking forward to the convenient, 1.2-mile trip to Wantagh High. “For a lot of these kids, it’s just a really fun day,” he said. “It’s enjoyable.”

Friedman said the students started preparing for the competition in September, and their goal, like all teams, is to advance to the state tournament. “The kids work hard,” he said. “They have to stay after school and there’s time required of them at home.”

The top finishing teams will advance to the state tournament in Syracuse on March 11 and 12. Last year, Wantagh placed second, earning its third straight trip to states. Other local high schools expected to a force in the regional competition include last year’s first-place finisher Syosset, as well as Farmingdale, Hicksville and Division Avenue.

“I think we’re working really hard, and I think we’ll do well,” said senior Sophia Liu, captain of the Wantagh’s Science Olympiad team, who will participate in four events. “We do so much preparation.”

Colavita said despite losing several key members of last year’s team, this year’s group is also very talented, as many have done Science Olympiad all four years of high school. For fairness purposes, Science Olympiad rules allow no more than seven seniors on each team of 15.

Senior Chris Mountanos, who will be participating in four events, noted how strong last year’s team was, and said he believes this year’s group is up to the task. “I’d love to see our team this year compare to them, and maybe take it one step further,” he said.

Mountanos said he looks forward to the competition because he gets a chance to be surrounded by people with similar interests. He is particularly looking forward to the Game On event, in which he has 50 minutes to design a computer game. “The day of the competition is always interesting,” he said. “If you work hard, you will do well.”

Colavita said going into the competition next weekend, Wantagh’s biggest strength is the collective interest in science among the students. They are willing to become experts in topics that go beyond the typical science curriculum. “The fact that they get enjoyment out of it is great,” he said. “It’s inspiring.”