Editor's note: This article is the first in a three-day series featuring local teams that will be competing in the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals May 31-June 3.

In any type of competition, it always helps for a rookie coach to have veteran team members.

Coaches who reach the World Finals of Odyssey of the Mind, the international scholastic problem-solving competition involving participants from elementary school through college, usually have many years of experience leading a team.

But Weedsport High School art teacher Hannah Fancher has done what few have accomplished. In her first year as a coach, Fancher has led her team, Weedsport High School's Division III squad, whose skit solved the “Tee Structure” problem, to the finals set to be held May 31 to June 3 at the University of Maryland.

A big reason for Weedsport's success is that most team members have several years experience in the competition. Four of the six members - Nicole Slauson, Jordan Roe, Erin Daly and Randy Condes - competed in last year's world finals held at Michigan State University.

“I've really enjoyed coaching, especially since we've made it as far as we have. How could I not have (enjoyed it)?” said Fancher, who is joined by fellow coach and Weedsport language arts teacher Wendy Parks.

Fancher's initial exposure to the Odyssey of the Mind program, in which thousands of teams worldwide create an eight-minute “solution skit” solving one of five problems created by the international Odyssey organization, has made her realize the competition's multiple benefits.

“(Odyssey) really helps kids learn a sense of teamwork and creativity. It brings out so many different aspects of learning - artwork, music, engineering, all sorts of things,” she said.

Back in the fall, the two coaches and six team members began meeting to discuss ideas for their solution skit.

The Tee Structure problem synopsis states teams must only use balsa wood and glue to build their structure, and that the structure will support weight that is balanced on golf balls.

Though Fancher was reluctant to discuss details of the skit - “We still have a competition left, and we don't want anyone to steal our ideas,” she said - the solution centers around three characters who go to the moon.

“I play an environmentalist,” said sophomore team member Daly, who is participating in the program for the eighth time. “I myself, am really environmentally conscious, so I thought it would work well.”

To create their characters, team members tried to be as original as possible.

“We thought, 'What would be the most random, unique people you'd never expect to be together?' I think we came up with a good combination,” Daly added.

A bonus of the team's skit, which also includes a narrator, a retired football player and an elderly lady, is that team members composed original music for their characters.

Since Weedsport attended the world finals last year, Daly explained, the team felt a bit of pressure at the Region 11 tournament on March 15 in Auburn.

“We were pretty good last year, too, and I think we were getting compared (to that team), so we were hoping we could do that good again,” she said.

The comparisons were unnecessary. The team's structure held a total of 370 pounds, earning Weedsport a first-place finish, which advanced it to the New York state tournament held March 29 at Binghamton University.

“States, we were ecstatic with,” Daly said. “We made some improvements we were really happy with, and we were really happy the way things turned out.”

At that competition, where the team finished in second place, the team's structure held 465 pounds.

“They also added a lot more golf balls to their structure, which gave them more points and helped them win,” Fancher said.

“We were one of the very first teams to compete (in Binghamton), so it was really early in the morning,” she recalled with a laugh. “But they did an awesome job regardless.”

To raise funds to help offset the team's trip to Maryland, the group held a fundraiser Sunday, May 18 at Burritt's Cafe in Weedsport, that included entertainment and a raffle featuring items donated by local merchants.

Droves of guests attended the affair to wish the team well.

“We're all very excited,” Fancher said. “Regardless of how we do, I know everybody's just really proud,” she added.

WEEDSPORT JR./SR. HIGH SCHOOL, DIVISION III

TEAM MEMBERS:

Randy Condes

Erin Daly

Kelly Piascik

Christi Quinn

Jordan Roe

Nicole Slauson

COACHES:

Wendy Parks

Hannah Fancher

PROBLEM:

Tee Structure

SYNOPSIS: The team's problem is to design and build a structure using only balsa wood and glue. The team will test the structure by having it support weights that are balanced on golf balls without touching anything else. The team will receive score for the amount of weight the structure holds during testing and bonus points for each golf ball used to support the weights.

If You Go

WHAT: Odyssey of the Mind World Finals

WHERE: University of Maryland, College Park, MD

WHEN: May 31 through June 3

Odyssey of the Mind Quick Facts

#) Created in 1978 by Dr. C. Samuel Micklus of Rowan (N.J.) University. Teams from 28 New Jersey schools competed in the first tournament.

#) Four levels of competition: Div. I#)Grades K-5; Div. II#)Grades 6-8; Div. III#)Grades 9-12; Div. IV#)College.

#) Long-term problems created by Odyssey of the Mind's international committee. Each varies slightly from year to year.

Problem 1: Vehicle/mechanical

Problem 2: Technical performance

Problem 3: Classics

Problem 4: Structure

Problem 5: Performance

To learn more about the program, visit the Odyssey of the Mind website: www.odysseyofthemind.com