The Science Olympiad team will compete at Wichita State University for its state competition on Saturday, April 7. The team has put in many hours preparing for this competition and they will leave Friday, April 6 before fourth hour.

The team is competing in the Large School division for the first time in many years. The large school division is made up of mainly 5A and 6A schools, however Hays was placed into that bracket as a 4A. Instructor Beth Shiel speaks on the matter.

“You can argue it both ways,” Shiel says. “We are a smaller large school, so the competition will be greater than what we are used to. But if you look at it the other way, we would be a large small school and those small schools may think we have an advantage over them.”

Shiel feels that the team is more prepared this year for the competition than they were in years past, and she feels that the students have worked harder this year.

One event that students can compete in, in Science Olympiad is Herpetology, a subject junior Jackson Stanton enjoys greatly.

“I joined Science Olympiad purely because there was a Herpetology event,” Stanton said. “Ashton Balthazor said ‘hey go talk to Zim there’s a Herpetology event in Science Olympiad’ and i joined. Plus it’s competing in science which is just wicked.”

Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians, and it’s what Stanton wants to go into later in life.

“being able to learn about what you love and getting to compete in it is awesome,” Stanton said. “Identification of the reptiles, specifically snakes, is just so fun.”

Stanton thinks that the competition at state will be more difficult now that they are competing against larger schools.

“It will be interesting, a new experience, a good experience,” Stanton said. “I’m a bit nervous about it but I think it will go well enough. I think we will still be able to medal in events.”

18drooney@usd489.com