LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Orinda Odyssey of the Mind team places fifth at World Finals


Photo provided

Over Memorial Day weekend three local teams competed at the 2019 Odyssey of the Mind World Finals held at Michigan State University, with nearly 900 teams from 54 different countries and five continents competing in four divisions in an attempt to solve one of five different problems.

Orinda Rotary's Fifth Grade team (Division 1) consisting of (back row) Ryan Chan, Lily Harrick, Toby Montalban, (front row) Augie Martinez, Kodie Zundel, Vinny Yu, and Ian Hughes placed fifth in the world. They are coached by Janine Ogando and Jill Hughes and solved Problem 4, the structure problem. This is the second year for five members of this team to make it to the world competition. Last year they were a rookie team, placed seventh, and won an OMER's Award in recognition of exemplary behavior through personal action and exceptional skill.

Other local teams also did well at the World Competition, which is similar to the Olympics but for OoTM problems. It's a huge feat to make it to and be able to compete at the World Competition; requiring that a team earn first or second at a regional competition and then either first or second at the state competition. Solving the Vehicle Problem, Foothill Middle School (Div.2) placed 13th and Orinda Rotary (Div. 3) placed 23rd. For Problem 2, Foothill Middle School (Div.2) placed 18th and Orinda Rotary (Div 3) placed 25th. Solving the classics problem, Glorietta Elementary School Red (Div. 1) got 26th place, Stanley Middle School in Lafayette (Div. 2) placed 15th, and Walnut Creek Rotary (Div. 3) placed 20th. Orinda Rotary (Div. 1) took 5th place in the structure problem. The California teams solving the dramatic problem at Worlds were Carolyn Clark Elementary (San Jose / Div. 1) placing 10th, Brentwood Elementary (Div. 1) placing 17th, Miller Creek Middle School (Div. 2 /San Rafael) 16th place, and Concord HS (Div. 3) earning 16th.