During the majority of the third quarter, students were all home due to either snowstorms or a break out of COVID-19. During the week’s students were at school however, Science Olympiad spent their time creating and inventing machines. 

     They made these machines for their competition on February 26, 2022, at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. There were multiple events the students participated in. Junior Tucker Zweerink participated in three different events held at Missouri State University.

   “My three events are, Wright Stuff I have to build an airplane for that, It’s About Time is the one where I build a clock, and Trajectory I have to build a projectile launcher,” Zweerink said.

   The day of the competition came, and Kickapoo earned a high enough score to make it to state finals. State finals were held on April 9, 2022, at Missouri State University. For the rest of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth quarter, Science Olympiad students worked and perfected their creations.

    “For one of my events, I am fixing and rebuilding the water clock my partner and I built. The others I am studying and practicing similar activities to help me with my speed,” junior Donna Kearney said.

   On April 9, 2022, Science Olympiad students placed ninth out of thirty-two other teams.

   “It feels great knowing our team made it to state. We have put in lots of work this year and it paid off. Hopefully next year we can get a top five at state,” Zweerink said.

   Wilson Mao and Aaryan Thavaran place second for anatomy and physiology, Tucker Zweerink and Nathaniel Collin placed third for Wright Stuff, Aaryan Thavaran and Aarya Thavaran placed third for Ping-Pong Parachute, Arden Fraley and Taylor Brown placed fourth for Rocks and Minerals.

   “To most people, we did not win big, but we place ninth as a team which is the highest our team has ever place at state since both of our teachers had done it,” Kearney said.