Scioly.org

Seriously, this is the Internet. *Smack* D:

See, I think the reason why it feels nice to medal at Nationals is because a lot of the time, it's really a surprise. You know that any other team has the potential to medal, so you really can't go into competition expecting to.
Honestly, though, going to Nationals came off as a surprise to me this year. I kind of thought we wouldn't make the top 2 at States. We had a few problems before, and we lost a lot of our privileges. We were really lucky, no major disasters.

Just think of it this way: Even if you don't ever end up doing as well as you'd like while you're in Science Olympiad, just keep trying to get better. You're building the foundation for your team's future. Many of the people in WM (and Gneissisnice) who graduated from Gelinas came down here, and helped us out a lot. We probably couldn't have done as well as we did this year without them. :]

I'm sorry for acting like a jerk. I didn't want to be one, but I guess that's how I sounded.
HSP is right though; we couldn't have done so well without you guys. And about the whole medal thing, she's right. It's the surprise that gets you.

Phenylethylamine wrote:

quizbowl13 wrote:i understand, but look - F-M has won for the past 10 years, i think. its nearly impossible, if not completely impossible, for them to NOT make it. and w-m is getting stronger than ever; they even challenged F-m this year. if you look at the scores, 2nd and 3rd was close to 150 points difference. since new york is the largest state, i think that we need to have the ability to send on a 3rd team. that would be much less of a downer for the other teams out here.

While in some ways that would make sense, the Nationals Qualification discussion in the Nationals section has basically concluded that the number of teams sent isn't likely to change any time soon. Thank you for saying that about WM; we try but seriously, with a whole lot of work, there's no reason why any team couldn't eventually make it to that level. It might take a few years, but a strong program built over time really works. The main reason WM does as well as we do is huge amounts of support from the Gelinas coaches, parents, etc. Our program at WM itself has its strengths, but the Gelinas SciO program is integral to our success (such as it is). Dedicated coaches and parents make a huge difference- both because of their own input and because they encourage dedicated kids.

I wish we could be in your team's situation - basically our team is completely student run. We do have a coach, but he doesn't really help out in any events. No parents have ever helped, and our school almost canceled our trip to regionals cause they favor Forensics ( the cult-club, not the event ) over us. Like they don't let us take a trip to Pennsylvania for an invitational but let them go to nationals in Omaha even when only one person was actually competing. We, the students, are our only resources, and since a lot of science teachers are annoyed with our coach, we often aren't even allowed to borrow textbooks and resources. I'm still pretty surprised that we, solely students, can manage 9 medals and 5th place at states. If we had some aid, we could be a real threat.

quizbowl13 wrote:It's probably better to medal, or even win, at nationals

It feels good to win a medal no matter what. Even at regionals...

quizbowl13 wrote: I wish we could be in your team's situation - basically our team is completely student run. We do have a coach, but he doesn't really help out in any events. No parents have ever helped, and our school almost canceled our trip to regionals cause they favor Forensics ( the cult-club, not the event ) over us. Like they don't let us take a trip to Pennsylvania for an invitational but let them go to nationals in Omaha even when only one person was actually competing. We, the students, are our only resources, and since a lot of science teachers are annoyed with our coach, we often aren't even allowed to borrow textbooks and resources. I'm still pretty surprised that we, solely students, can manage 9 medals and 5th place at states. If we had some aid, we could be a real threat.

That sucks. If it weren't for the Gelinas program, we would be in a very similar situation (the WM head coach is... uh... less than fully dedicated, shall we say). Hopefully your situation will improve, but it's great that the SciO students are your school are motivated enough to manage that impressive finish That's amazing for a team that has no adult support.

Phenylethylamine wrote:

quizbowl13 wrote: I wish we could be in your team's situation - basically our team is completely student run. We do have a coach, but he doesn't really help out in any events. No parents have ever helped, and our school almost canceled our trip to regionals cause they favor Forensics ( the cult-club, not the event ) over us. Like they don't let us take a trip to Pennsylvania for an invitational but let them go to nationals in Omaha even when only one person was actually competing. We, the students, are our only resources, and since a lot of science teachers are annoyed with our coach, we often aren't even allowed to borrow textbooks and resources. I'm still pretty surprised that we, solely students, can manage 9 medals and 5th place at states. If we had some aid, we could be a real threat.

That sucks. If it weren't for the Gelinas program, we would be in a very similar situation (the WM head coach is... uh... less than fully dedicated, shall we say). Hopefully your situation will improve, but it's great that the SciO students are your school are motivated enough to manage that impressive finish That's amazing for a team that has no adult support.

Thanks, phenyl. We try really hard. But at least you guys HAVE a competent middle school system. Of the two schools that feed to us, one can't even crack the top 15 at regionals and the other barely makes states to fet in the 20s. Sorry if I'm being rather pessimistic, but our team needs help. Pronto. What might be the worst is that everyone on Scioly here talks about their 'coaches' and teachers who help them. We are basically our own coaches for EVERYTHING. What really amazes me is that 5 years ago, my school would have been happy with actually medaling at just one event at states, and in the past 5 years, we have gone from the mid-30s to the top few. The problem is that we have often relied on seniors, and we are losing much of our team...I hope we can remain strong.

The Division B State competition is moving to SUNY Ulster.

blue cobra wrote:The Division B State competition is moving to SUNY Ulster.

O.O

I liked New Paltz... not that I'd be at Division B States anyway, but still...

Phenylethylamine wrote:

blue cobra wrote:The Division B State competition is moving to SUNY Ulster.

O.O

I liked New Paltz... not that I'd be at Division B States anyway, but still...

double O.O
why are they changing the venue. I liked New Paltz too; i go to support the MS team.
That's also earlier than this year (and i mean before the pushed it back).

Aw, New Paltz was fun! We kept getting lost until we realized we were just walking around in that big circle..