Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Friday, April 25, 2008

Autumn Grooms: Local Odyssey teams invited to world finals

By AUTUMN GROOMS | La Crosse Tribune

HOLMEN, Wis. — Odyssey of the Mind is more than just an afterschool activity to seven quick-thinking Holmen Middle School students.

It’s become a way of life, since most of them joined in elementary school, sixth-grade member Logan Massman said.

“We all know each other, and it’s easier to talk with each other,” he said. “That helps a lot and makes it more fun.”

Their commitment to the program that teaches students to think on their feet was renewed earlier this year, when they didn’t have an advisor.

Rather than waiting for someone to take the reins, the kids went online, got the problem and began practicing on their own.

“We’d meet and have pizza and plan,” said Logan, 12.

Soon, Logan’s mother, Cheryl Massman, signed on as a parent-coach, and the group was well on their way to preparing for the state competition April 12 in Holmen.

The students chose the Odyssey Road Rally problem and started building their vehicle and working on a skit in February — three months later than usual.

“It was stressful at times, just trying to get stuff done,” Logan said. “When the weather got nice we wanted to go outside, but we had to get stuff done for the next day.”

They learned a lot about electricity, and converting AC and DC wires, Logan said.

“One thing, luckily, we didn’t learn is how to get shocked,” he added.

But they got their battery-powered vehicle running, and their skit’s prehistoric theme came together.

And, somehow, the Holmen Middle team took first place in the Odyssey Road Rally Division II at the state competition.

They were invited to the 2008 Odyssey of the Mind World Finals in College Park, Md., but family circumstances will prevent the team from making an appearance, Cheryl said.

Parents made the decision Friday during a meeting.

Instead, they’ve opted to regroup and sell brats and hamburgers from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Festival Foods Brat Barn, 600 N. Holmen Drive, Holmen.

Money raised will help fund future team endeavors, Cheryl said.

“You always see a lot of emphasis placed on the sporting world, it’s neat to see such an emphasis placed on something

academic,” Cheryl said. “It’s an amazing program.”

Also qualifying for Odyssey of the Mind World Finals from the Coulee Region are teams from Bangor Middle/High School, Blair-Taylor Schools, Viking Elementary School in Holmen and Onalaska High School.

The Bangor team will attend and compete in Odyssey Road Rally Division III, and Onalaska’s team will compete in The Eccentrics! Division III.

Onalaska’s team is comprised of sophomores who have competed together since second grade and will make their first appearance at World’s May 31 through June 3.

Good luck to all the teams continuing their season, and to those who decided to call it quits, may your creative juices flow again next fall.

Autumn Grooms can be reached at (608) 791-8424 or agrooms@lacrossetribune.com.