What is the Hardest State to Compete in?

[gyourkoshaven]

Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York are definitely in the top 5, probably New Jersey and I don't know about a fifth.

[Avis_de-Incendia]

Texas is probably up there....

[gyourkoshaven]

I don't think so, the C division winner apparently got a 38, but they probably won't even make top 10 at nats. There is just much less competition to the big guys than there is in other states.

[soobsession]

im not from ca, but what about ca?

[haven chuck]

Ohio is by far the most competitive. Solon HS got 2nd at nats last year and didnt even make nats this year, not because they were bad, but because other teams were really good.

[croman74]

Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York are definitely in the top 5, probably New Jersey and I don't know about a fifth.

Michigan is definitely in the top 5. White Pines MS placed 2nd last year, 1 place away from 1st. I'm guessing that both Michigan Div. B teams will be top 10 easily.

[anon y mouse]

The question should really be split up into C and B divisions, it's two different answers. For C division, the answer is simple - Ohio. The competition is so incredibly fierce that Solon didn't make it this year, after finishing 2nd nationally. For B division, I would go with PA by a hair. Sewickley, Shady Side, Strath Haven, and Bala Cynwyd top the list, which is a depth you don't really see in any other state.

[sr243]

NJ division C is really hard. The two schools west-windsor high school south and west-windsor high school north both went and gotten top 10 when they went. They also are new to Science olympiad as they only started to go to nationals from 2006 and on. That is amazing as they beat Montgomery who got 16th at nats in 2005. Only one team goes to nationals and both can get top 10. In the next 10 years, NJ probably will be able to get top 5 in division C.

WI division C is the most messed up. There are 28 events and your team only needs to do 20. So many trial events and some events at nationals aren't there at state. The top team got 47 points. There are 48 schools competing which meaning if you mess up on one event and get 20th or higher, your team can't go to nationals. You need to have a really consistent team or you will not be able to go to nationals. No mess ups.

[prehistoricman5]

im not from ca, but what about ca?

Well, I can't speak for norcal, but Troy dominates socal Div C, though not for a lack of talent elsewhere. A couple of the other teams do have the potential for doing well at nationals (North Hollywood especially), but no team from Troy wants to be the team that breaks the streak.

[fmtiger124]

C division in NY is hard to get first it drops off after that though the real battle is for second cause F-M is practically invincible in first