Division 1 team consisting of Julie Joffe, Meera Gupta, Natalie Waple, Niyathi Shah, Pratika Katiyar and Sahiti Rachakonda from Hunters Woods Elementary School in Reston won third place in Virginia State Odyssey of the Mind Tournament. Photo contributed
Division 1 team consisting of Julie Joffe, Meera Gupta, Natalie Waple, Niyathi Shah, Pratika Katiyar and Sahiti Rachakonda from Hunters Woods Elementary School in Reston chose problem two “Not So Haunted House” for the Odyssey of the Mind tournament. The team created and presented an original performance that included a “pop-up-style” not-so-haunted “house” where four special effects take place. The intent of the special effects was to scare others, but they produce a different result instead with a surprise ending. In addition to the long-term problem, there is a spontaneous question round in the tournament. The team came in first place in the Regional Tournament held at Oakton High School on March 8. With that it became eligible to compete in the Virginia State Tournament at Franklin County High School near Roanoke, Va., on April 26. In a very tough competition of all the regional winners in the state tournament, the team came in third place. The team was coached by Neelesh Katiyar, Prerana Katiyar and Anil Shah along their journey to the state tournament.