11 Odyssey of the Mind Teams Advance to States

The district recorded an impressive showing with three first-place, five second-place, two third-place and one fourth-place finish.

The qualifying teams will compete at the state finals on March 28, 2026, at Pocono Mountain East Campus in Swiftwater, Pennsylvania.

In total, 22 Upper St. Clair teams representing 136 students from all six district schools participated in the regional tournament, which was held on Saturday, March 7, at Peters Township High School.

The following teams are advancing to the Pennsylvania Odyssey of the Mind State Finals:

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DIVISION 1 (Grades 3–5)

Baker Elementary School — Technical Problem (2nd Place)

• Team members: Jackson Beck, Max Allen, Chase Ingalise, Harrison Snavely, Cora Dunkin, Erika Bonnell and Lily Wang
• Coaches: Betsy Allen, Nicole Beck and Kelly Ingalise 

Boyce Middle School — Performance Problem (2nd Place)

• Team members: Josie Hermoni, Abby Elders, Jackson Hollihan and Carter Kaldon
• Coaches: Sarah Hollihan and Lorelei Elders

Streams Elementary School — Classics Problem (4th Place)

• Team members: Oli Kruk, Hank Bailey, Lainey Maxwell, Jameson Lin, Wushuang Shi and Will Cheyne
• Coaches: Kelli Maxwell and Crystal Bailey

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DIVISION 2 (Grades 6–8) 

Boyce Middle School — Vehicle Problem (1st Place)

• Team members: Julia Ross, Roman Duffy, Ben Caesar, Cole Hirzel, Ellie Finnegan, Emily Michalak and Quin Thorp
• Coaches: Brett Duffy and Nadine Michalak

Fort Couch Middle School — Classics Problem (1st Place)

• Team members: Ava Fingal, Drew Holzer, Sophia Lee, Caroline Fingal, Keira Mycoff, Rehana Rai and Lydia Calkins
• Coaches: Josh Mycoff and Doug Calkins

Fort Couch Middle School — Performance Problem (2nd Place)

• Team members: Molly Guarino, Keirsten King, Sarah Sakowitz, Elise Mostowy and Cassidy King
• Coach: Dawn Mostowy

Fort Couch Middle School — Classics Problem (3rd Place)

• Team members: Avery Metcalf, Lula Griffin, Elliot Sams, Kendall Zielinski and Penelope Collins
• Coaches: Sarah Sams and Jacob Collins

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DIVISION 3 (Grades 9–12)

Upper St. Clair High School — Classics Problem (1st Place)

• Team members: Lydia Sliski, Austin Szpara, Scarlett Burgess, Enoch Katru, Seth Pedretti, Violet McLeod and Luciana Putorti
• Coaches: Kyle Burgess and Kristy Szpara

Upper St. Clair High School — Technical Problem (2nd Place)

• Team members: Nigel Bailey, Thea Scheuerle, Ashwin Vasudevan, Parker Sams and Daphne Collins
• Coaches: Sarah Sams and Jacob Collins

Upper St. Clair High School — Performance Problem (2nd Place)

• Team members: Daniyal Badaruddin, Artie McCallum, Kurt Baran, Preston McLeod, Ian Putorti, Geneva Eisinger and Lauren Ginsburg
• Coaches: Dawn Predmore and Nate Eisinger

Upper St. Clair High School — Classics Problem (3rd Place)

• Team members: Octavia Long, Hadley Maxwell, Nimisha Simhadri, Lee Miller, Vienna Eisinger, Kayden Dunkin and Ava Parajuli
• Coach: Vonya Eisinger