How Northville High School Science Students Made History

For the first time in school history, Northville High School has advanced to the Science Olympiad National Tournament by placing second at the state tournament held at Michigan State University on April 26.   

The Mustangs finished second, one point behind eight-time defending champion Grand Haven High School.   

Forty-eight teams competed for one of Michigan’s coveted two invitations to the national tournament at the University of Central Florida in Orlando on May 17.

The team improved from last year’s fifth place finish by medaling in 16 of 23 events, including first place finishes in “Rocks and Minerals” and “Write It, Do It”.    

Every team member earned an individual medal by placing in the top six of an event, and Junior Ravi Ramisami led the team with four medals.  

According to senior co-captain Trevor Glenn, it was a total team effort.  

"With everyone winning a medal in at least one event, it really showed how hard each team member has worked since October to learn and prepare themselves for the competition,” he said.

"At our initial captains’ meeting, I said, 'It's our senior year, let's make it count and go to Disney World', and that is exactly what we did this weekend," said co-captain Rachel Crittenden.

At the national tournament, NHS students will compete in the same 23 events in five categories – life science, earth science, physics and chemistry, technology and engineering. The competition will feature 61 15-member high school (Division C) teams from 41 states, as well as a team from Mie Prefectural Ise High School in Japan.

Senior Stuart Nath, the third co-captain, acknowledged that hard work plus a little luck were both needed to make NHS the first Wayne County team to reach the national tournament in the 30 year history of Science Olympiad.  

"Every member of the team put their very best into the competition,” he said. “We are lucky to have such talented and devoted participants on our team."

The team is coached by parent volunteers Becky Marks and Janeen Crittenden.

NHS results from the State Tournament:

• Anatomy and Physiology: Trevor Glenn, Sangini Tolia, 10th