DATE: Sunday, March 16, 1997                TAG: 9703170196

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY KENNAN NEWBOLD, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:  163 lines

STUDENTS RELY ON WITS AND FAMILY

The judge says ``Begin,'' and five Cape Henry Collegiate high school students take the stage, two in mice costumes, one pushing a hot dog stand.

Over the next few minutes, they will perform a skit that blends ancient artifacts with modern tools, and humor with archaeology, to meet a complicated set of requirements set by Odyssey of the Mind Tournament officials.

Their eight minutes in the spotlight took five months to create.

The preparations paid off. The students' handmade props stayed put on the Virginia Wesleyan College stage. Their homemade costumes stayed on, and no one forgot their lines. If they were nervous, it didn't show.

The performance Saturday was part of the regional Odyssey of the Mind Tournament, which pitted 130 teams from 65 local schools in a creative contest of wit and cleverness.

Nationally, teams from kindergarten to college chose from five one-paragraph assignments to interpret on stage. Cape Henry Collegiate's archaeological foray was their solution to the problem ``Classics - Can You Dig It?''

But Saturday was more than just a talent exhibition for students competing in Odyssey of the Mind. For these students - and others who participated in academic events this weekend - it was the culmination of hundreds of hours of hard work.

Local students participated in academic competitions like the Great Computer Challenge at Old Dominion University and MATHCOUNTS - a mathematical version of a state spelling bee - in Richmond.

The competitions were very different, but those who competed had something in common: a dedication to their team and to their trade.

Some of the teams that competed Saturday have been practicing since school began in September. Some have sacrificed pizza parties and soccer team pictures to attend rehearsals and competitions.

Most say it's worth it, and can rattle off lots of reasons why.

At the Odyssey of the Mind Tournament, Jonathan Zelig, 11, a member of Norfolk Academy's Classics team, said he missed his basketball team's semifinal game to be there Saturday.

``This is more important,'' he said. ``I can play basketball any time I want, but I can't go to OM whenever I want.''

His teammate Caitlin Willoughby missed a friend's birthday party.

``They've all given up a lot since they committed to this in November,'' said team coach Kate Wilson. ``But they get a lot out of it, like new friendships.''

Ben Circelli, a member of a team of sixth-graders from Star of the Sea, gave up swimming to be able to practice with his OM team every day after school and every Sunday since October.

``I don't mind, though,'' he said. ``It's more fun than hard work.''

Ben's parents, Priscilla and Joe Circelli, say most parents with kids involved in competitions like OM and the Great Computer Challenge make a big commitment to the competition as well.

``You do the driving to and from practice, and you have to work with your children and encourage them when they want to quit,'' Priscilla said. ``And you have to give up some things to a certain extent. We've had to work around family get-togethers for Ben.''

And then there are the financial commitments parents say they make to their children's involvement.

Jack Kenley, Star of the Sea's OM coach and the father of one of the girls on the team, is proof of how money matters. He estimates he has spent about $400 this year as the team experimented with props and costumes for their performance. But the team's onstage equipment totaled less than $100, according to the rules.

Wilson said, ``There's a lot of parental commitment involved. But they are always very supportive.''

Hundreds of parents, grandparents, siblings and friends were at Virginia Wesleyan and ODU to support those competing. Cameras flashed and groups cheered wildly. Any real competitiveness among teams was invisible.

But that doesn't mean these academic challenges aren't competitive. Several schools had tryouts for spots on both OM and the Great Computer Challenge teams.

According to the Norfolk Academy's OM team of fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders, they had to sign a contract in November after a competitive three-day tryout period that said the only thing that comes before OM is schoolwork.

And once the four-member team from Botetourt Elementary School was picked to compete in the Great Computer Challenge, they began three weeks of intensive practices before and after school to prepare.

Their task Saturday was to create a calendar using desktop publishing software. They had an hour and a half to cut, paste and find appropriate graphics.

Both teams said all the hard work was worth it though, and they're all pretty sure they'll participate again next year.

Jessica Kenley, 12, has been a part of OM for seven years. She doesn't mind the hard work, she says: It's a privilege to be a part of the competition. Besides, she's thinking ahead.

``It's fun, but it's also good for college records,'' she said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot

Judge Tom Lukic examines Norfolk Academy's android in the OMerdroid

portion of the Odyssey of the Mind competition at Virginia Wesleyan.

The eight-minute skit required a humorous performance centered on

an android called OMerdroid that was designed and made by the team.

Graphic

WINNERS OF THE TIDEWATER REGION ODYSSEY

OF THE MIND TOURNAMENT

Balloonacy Cars

Division II: Chesapeake Bay Academy

Division III: Great Bridge High School

OMerdroid

Division I: John B. Dey Elementary

Division II: Western Branch Middle School

Division III: Frank W. Cox High School

Classics - Can You Dig It?

Division I: Trantwood Elementary

Division II: Hickory Middle School

Division III: Cape Henry Collegiate

Double Trouble

Division I: Western Branch Intermediate

Division II: Cape Henry Collegiate

Division III: Cape Henry Collegiate

Heroic Proportions

Division I: Crestwood Intermediate

Division II: Great Neck Middle School and Norfolk Academy (tie)

TOP WINNERS OF THE GREAT COMPUTER CHALLENGE

Graphic Arts, Division I:

T.C. Walker

Hardy Elementary

James River

John Tyler

Churchland Academy

R.O. Nelson

Wilton Elementary

Primary Publishing, Division I:

Larchmont Elementary

McIntosh Elementary

Wilton Elementary

Carrlton

Churchland Primary

Douglass Park

Graphic Arts, Division II:

First place, R.O. Nelson

Second place, Old Donation Center

Third place, Lake View Elementary

Desktop Publishing, Division II:

First place, Ocean Lakes

Second place, Rappahannock Central

Third place, Thoroughgood

LOGO, Division II:

First place, Trantwood Elementary

Second place, St. Andrew's Episcopal

Third place, Poquoson

Internet, Division II:

First place, Trantwood Elementary

Second place, Dutrow Elementary

Third place, Old Donation Center

LOCAL WINNERS FROM THE VIRGINIA MATHCOUNTS CHAMPIONSHIPS IN

RICHMOND:

Kemps Landing Magnet School, Virginia Beach was a top-scoring

school.

Kevin Chen from Western Branch Middle School, Chesapeake, and

Karen Otto from Kempsville Middle School, Virginia Beach were top

students in the countdown round, where students compete head-to-head

to solve difficult math problems in 45 seconds. KEYWORDS: ODYSSEY OF THE MIND

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu