By Madison Go | Posted April 10, 2025
The MHS Science Olympiad team gathered at Village Walk in Skillman on March 12 to be together as they awaited the final results of the NJ Tournament. Would they be crowned Division C State Champions? Tension was discernible.
The MHS Science Olympiad team at the Village Walk at Montgomery.
The team’s advisor and coach, MHS science department head Jason Sullivan, explained high stress levels. “There have been a couple of times where the difference between the state champion and the second [placing] team is one point,” he said. “When you’re competing in 23 events, that’s just not much margin for error.”
This year, however, the Montgomery team left nothing to chance, defending their title as state champions, they won by a decisive four points above West Windsor-Plainsboro North. With first-place finishes in multiple events [Astronomy, Bungee Drop, Codebusters, Disease Detectives, Dynamic Planet, Entomology, Fossils, Geologic Mapping, Optics, Tower, Wind Power, and Write It Do It], MHS clinched the overall victory, punching their ticket to Nationals in May.
Science Olympiad is not for the faint of heart. The team demands rigorous preparation, from practices during the summer to hands-on build projects while juggling academics and other extracurriculars. Competitors train year-round, refining their skills in subjects ranging from chemistry and ecology to physics and engineering. The intense nature of the competition pushes students to their limits, but for these dedicated team members, the challenge is part of the reward. Senior Team Captain David Ji told The Montgomery News: “I think the most rewarding part of this season has honestly probably yet to come. It’s always the end of the season that’s always the most rewarding, because we get to see exactly what all of our efforts have really brought about.”
The Science Olympiad National Tournament will take place at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, NE, on May 23-24. This tournament represents the highest level of science competition for middle and high schools across the nation. Founded in 1984, Science Olympiad is the premier team STEM competition in the nation, providing standards-based challenges to 6,600 teams at 425 tournaments in all 50 states.
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Beyond the competition, the MHS Junior Captain Priyanshu Dasgupta says the team prides itself on its strong sense of camaraderie. “[Our teammates] make you strive to be better in all ways possible... Basically, it’s like a family here,” he said. The team dynamic fosters a supportive environment where students push each other to excel, building not just scientific knowledge but also leadership and teamwork skills. “Our number one goal is always just to enjoy ourselves and have fun being a team, and success comes with that,” Coach Sullivan said.
While the team’s victories are a testament to their dedication, the friendships gained through Science Olympiad prove to be just as meaningful. The program’s strength is further bolstered by community support. This year, the team not only competes but also gives back, inspiring future generations of STEM leaders through its Junior Cougar Championship, an invitational for elementary and middle schoolers across central New Jersey. The event provides younger students with an early taste of high-level competition, fostering skills that may one day earn them a spot on the high school team. With Nationals on the horizon, the team has no plans to slow down.
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