Odyssey officials honor Port Jervis student for sportsmanship

POSTED: MARCH 14, 2012
Port Jervis High School freshman Austin Wilson was singled out by the officials at the regional Odyssey of the Mind tournament for demonstrating outstanding sportsmanship and team work. Tournament officials presented Wilson, who was competing on one of three Port Jervis teams at the March 10 tournament, with the distinguished 2012 OMER’s Award.

Named for the Odyssey of the Mind raccoon mascot, OMER, the award is presented at Odyssey tournaments to individuals or teams to honor exemplary behavior. In Wilson’s case, the tournament officials recognized the actions he took to help his team overcome challenges in order to put on a successful performance at the Orange-Ulster BOCES competition.
 

Wilson’s team placed third in the Odyssey Angels division. The sitting for their performance was a dream in which two Odyssey Angels dealt with bullying, cleanliness and a life-threatening issue. The situation was complicated by the fact that one Odyssey Angel was mute and the other had the extraordinary power of being able to resize objects. Science teacher Marc Koenig coached team members Ryan Keane, Austin Wilson, Jesse Ingram, Tyler Farley and Robert Torrence.
 

The other High School team, Ooh Motional Vehicle, took second.
In this division, teams had to design, build, and drive a vehicle that displays human emotions along a course where it encounters three different situations. Emphasis was placed on the technical risk-taking
and creativity of the vehicle's engineering for travel and change of its emotional appearance. Team members Ariana Lapauti, Rashaad Escimilla, Danny Murphy, Aaron Aumick, Rachael Mercilliott and Ashley Pihl were coached by Pauline Aumick.


 

The team from Anna S. Kuhl Elementary School competed in
the To Be or Not To Be division, which required students to put a musical theatre spin on one of William Shakespeare's most famous
lines: "To Be Or Not To Be." Under the direction of coaches Noeleen Casey-Tomasi and Bridgett Brace, team members Joshua Kowinsky,
Harry Tomasi, Eryn Keys, James Centauro, Elizabeth Tasker,
Jett Conklin and Emma Cargil had to incorporate creative scene and costume changes into their presentation.

 

Odyssey of the Mind is an international program that promotes creative problem solving and challenges students in grades 1 to 12 to compete in long-term problem solving and spontaneous on-the-spot brainstorming. This year, the regional competition included teams from 15 school districts in Orange, Ulster, Sullivan and Dutchess counties.

Congratulations to all of the Port teams!

SECOND PLACE – Ooh Motional Vehicle
Port Jervis High School Team
Coaches: Pauline and Clare Aumick
Team members: Ariana Lapauti, Rashaad Escimilla, Danny Murphy, Aaron Aumick,
Rachael Mercilliott and Ashley Pihl

THIRD PLACE – Odyssey Angels
Port Jervis High School Team
Coach: Marc Koenig
Team members: Ryan Keane, Austin Wilson, Jesse Ingram, Tyler Farley and Robert Torrence

To Be or Not To Be
Anna S. Kuhl Elementary School Team
Coaches: Noeleen Casey-Tomasi and Bridgett Brace
Team members: Joshua Kowinsky, Harry Tomasi, Eryn Keys, James Centauro, Elizabeth Tasker, Jett Conklin and Emma Cargil