After a strong performance at the Alameda Regional (ACSO) competition, Amador Valley’s Science Olympiad team has successfully secured a spot at the state competition. The team placed fourth overall, earning the opportunity to compete against the top teams in California.
What is Science Olympiad
Science Olympiad is a nationwide STEM competition where students compete in a variety of events covering biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, and earth sciences. Events range from study events, which include written exams; lab events, which involve hands-on experiments; to build Events, where students construct and test devices such as towers or helicopters. Founded in 2008, Amador’s Science Olympiad club has outdone itself this year, achieving a milestone by advancing to states—an accomplishment it has only previously reached in the 2013-2014, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 seasons.
“I am thrilled with our team’s performance, as this is our highest placement in school district history. It is incredibly rewarding to see all of our hard work and dedication pay off,” said team captain Ritwik Aeka (’26).
Overcoming Challenges at Regionals
Competing at the regional level presented several challenges, with some members feeling significant pressure. Despite this, the team pushed forward, demonstrating their determination, going toe-to-toe with competitors like Mission San Jose and Castro Valley.
“The most challenging part of regionals was competing against some really strong teams. The tests were difficult, and we had to give it our all,” said co-president Raghav Sreekumar (’25).
Preparing for the State Competition
Looking ahead to the state competition, Amador’s Science Olympiad team is continuing to fine-tune their skills. In addition to regular practices, the team is attending an upcoming invitational at Berkeley (GGSO) and increasing the frequency of practice sessions.
“The captains are hosting in-person practice test sessions to get more comfortable with testing environments and tackling more difficult questions,” said team captain Minsung Kim (’25).
