Scioly.org

I'm not sure if that was sarcasm, but I have to disagree.

I think, generally, there's a reason that the same teams seem to do well every year. Those are the teams that care a lot about SO, that practice a lot, and have build up a program over many years. Sure, the influence of a new coach can make a big difference too, but a lot of SO is the "program." The leaving upperclassmen, if they're strong, help to teach the underclassmen how things work and how to do things well, and there's a tradition that people try to uphold.

Of course, a difference in coaching staff and dedication, with a good set of people in a certain class can do that too. For example, several years ago, Welsh Valley had one coach and they went to Nationals several years in a row and even did well at nationals. Then, when that coach retired and the team was handed off, there was a couple of years in transition - even a year where WV didn't make it to states. When I got to WV, we got a few new coaches and had a couple strong grades in a row, we were 2nd at regionals (after getting 11th the year before) and then 7th, then 5th, then 3rd at states. But, still, the tradition of knowing that WV has had experience with really good olympiad teams in the past is part of what made that possible. Now, in the tradition that those few years have left behind, WV still has kept in the top 3 at regionals and top 10 States.

No, it wasnt sarcasm. I think yeah, good teams do tend to stay well for the reasons you mentioned, but most of those teams got to fairly drastically, by having one good year and going from there. For instance, Sewickley got 2nd in its 1st really competitive year. Since then, they have stayed at the top, but came out of no where the first year. Of course some teams will slowly get better and better, there will be teams that dont have a good history and yet still could do well if something happens. All im trying to say is that each year's team defines itself, so if one team works really hard, then they could do well, no matter past results.

I think that in most cases teams don't come out of nowhere. Sewickley's case is an exception to this, because obviously they did come out of nowhere. In most cases though, I agree with nejanimb. Good teams generally stay resonably good, and not good teams stay not good.

Helix_Nebula_Freak wrote:Hey, u never know what could happen. Peter's Township could get like 10 genius 6th Graders and dominate. I don't know how likely that is, but hey- this is SO and anything can happen...

They could, but this past year they didn't do that well...

True, true....

i dont think that they are goin far any time soon

Never say never...

(although i guess you didn't actully say "never")

okay were still talking about states that happened months ago!!! get over it people!! ther's always next year!!1

No, nobody was still talking about the past states until you just brought it up.

really , cause it did sure sound like they were then again, I haven't read all the posts, it just takes too long toread 6 pages of posts...*sighing sounds*