How to get to Nationals and beat Troy

[Jn366435]

Being in Southern California Division C is tough, since Troy has always gone to Nationals by winning every single regional,invitational, and state competition they enter. It's my 3rd year doing science Olympiad (before in Division B), and my dream has always been to be able to go to Nationals with my friends, but we barely made it to State in middle school. This year is my first in Division C, but since we don't have any funding, we aren't able to go to invitationals, meaning we only have one shot at States. Is Science Olympiad even worth going for, when everyone already acknowledges that Troy will win? Also, is there anyway to beat Troy? They are the best of the best and only one school from SoCal can go . How can my team, a newbie one, manage to usurp the other powerhouse schools and make it to State/Nationals? (I fear that I am the only dedicated one on the team... )

[antoine_ego]

A less gloomy attitude couldn't hurt.

[meierfra]

There are a lot of teams without funding that go to invitationals. A lot of teams do fundraising to go to invites; car washes and bake sales are the standards, but there are lots of other options. Especially for a Div. C, the fundraising is often organized by the students. Talk to your coach; ask them if you raise the necessary funds and organize carpools, would they take your team to an invite. You may also have to do some of the paperwork. There's a fair amount not including running an event.

That would really be my strongest suggestion. Not only do invitationals improve the teams skills, but moves forward the deadline and also if students are successful and earn medals or ribbons, that can motivate them to work a little more. And when students see their teammates earn medals and they don't, that can also motivate some.

I would also recommend setting short-term goals. You said your middle school barely made it to States. I'd suggest making this year's goal to beat half the teams at State. And maybe next year's goal to make it onto the podium for team awards, whether that's top 8 or top 10. It takes time to build a team.

[EastStroudsburg13]

Topic moved to General Chat due to general nature, and precedent for similar threads about team improvement being sourced in General Chat.

[jaymaron]

Short answer: No, you will not beat Troy, but maybe your team will one day.

A good example to look at is Mason High School's rise to success. It took at least 5-6 years from their first showing at States, but eventually, they managed to beat out top teams and get a spot to nationals. It is certainly possible to take down Troy, but it wont be easy and it wont be quick.

[JoeyC]

From personal experience, if your school is not currently good, there is little to no chance you will make Nationals. As Windu says, improve your team and one day they might make it, but here in the South, we've got Seven Lakes and LASA destroying everyone. Now, I'm at Tompkins, which is fed by the same types of predominantly Asian neighborhoods as Seven Lakes, hence similar "IQs" (I'm skeptical of that classification) but we haven't managed to get close to going to Nationals ever. Why?
Tompkins is a relatively new school, only about 4 years old, so the team has not had time to organize effectively, Seven Lakes has a significantly higher amount of competition for the "perfect" college application, so their Scioly is treated more rigorously, and most importantly, everyone there is dedicated to the team (Else they get cut. Yes, Seven Lakes does that even for invitationals, and so do some other schools if you're new to this.). I've met some of the people on their team and know them well. I'm actually smarter than quite a few of them, but they beat me in events. Why? Because as before stressed, their team is more developed, better structured, and more motivated. I'm sure the people who go to your school and the people who go to Troy aren't too different from each other; it's just that one of them has more experience and motivation. Give it time, and your team, with the right influences, will rise to the challenge.

[PM2017]

Being in Southern California Division C is tough, since Troy has always gone to Nationals by winning every single regional,invitational, and state competition they enter. It's my 3rd year doing science Olympiad (before in Division B), and my dream has always been to be able to go to Nationals with my friends, but we barely made it to State in middle school. This year is my first in Division C, but since we don't have any funding, we aren't able to go to invitationals, meaning we only have one shot at States. Is Science Olympiad even worth going for, when everyone already acknowledges that Troy will win? Also, is there anyway to beat Troy? They are the best of the best and only one school from SoCal can go . How can my team, a newbie one, manage to usurp the other powerhouse schools and make it to State/Nationals? (I fear that I am the only dedicated one on the team... )

Although you won't beat Troy, no matter how much you want it (Trust me; I've been there for three, soon to be four years), you can definitely put your best foot forward. Beat them in your own events. Lead by example. Work towards building your team up, each year. Last year, we made the unfortunate decision of trying to take on it all, and our team burned out and collapsed, and we ended up with our worst result out of the three years we were a team. So, don't try to make it all up in one go; the sad truth is, it won't happen. Even Troy didn't win state their first few years, and it's definitely much harder now.

As for whether or not SciOly is worth it, the letters. Y. E. S. You have to realize that there is so much more to the Science Olympiad experience than going to nationals. Just revel in your own accomplishments at state. If I dare say this, I'm fairly certain that winning a medal at SoCal states is a much more enjoyable experience than what I think it would be like at most states (save a certain few, like Ohio, Texas, etc.) Even if we don't make it nationals, which, let's face it, neither of us are, there's so much else that SciOly has to offer.

You also have to realize that Troy is NOT the only thing in your way. CCA, Northwood, North Hollywood, Diamond Bar, GAW are all amazing teams, and I'm certain they would do well at Nats if they made it. The harsh truth, that has been drilled into me is that Troy is not what stopped us from going to nats last year -- 22 teams other than Troy did. Now, if I were on Northwood's team, yes, I would be right to be somewhat salty about Troy. However, that is not my -- or your -- first priority.

I'm sure the people who go to your school and the people who go to Troy aren't too different from each other; it's just that one of them has more experience and motivation. Give it time, and your team, with the right influences, will rise to the challenge.

Actually, Troy has objectively, and as much as I hate saying this, better students. Troy is a magnet school, which attracts some of the brightest and most hard-working students in SoCal. One of my acquaintances at THS has told me that people actually move, just to be able to attend Troy. This is perhaps the biggest factor in their continued success. The statistical likelihood of finding 15+ students, willing and competent enough to compete at a nationals level is simply too low in most schools.

[megrimlockawesom]

be good LUL 4Head

but seriously though, the only way Troy, and really any nationally high schools get there is through hard work, organization, and dedication. That is all there is to it. There are no "tips and tricks" to getting to nationals. If you put in the hard work and dedication, you will get there soon enough. Your rise to the top may be quick, it may be slow, painful and grueling, but it will all pay off in the end either way.

[Unome]

I'm not willing to rule out the possibility of a team rapidly rising to beat Troy, especially at state where they are less dominant (vs. early season). As others have mentioned, it will require total dedication from all or most of your team.

[PM2017]

I'm not willing to rule out the possibility of a team rapidly rising to beat Troy, especially at state where they are less dominant (vs. early season). As others have mentioned, it will require total dedication from all or most of your team.

Maybe this is just me being cynical, but I don't seen what you mean by "less" dominant.
http://www.socalstatescioly.org/downloa ... Scores.pdf