Illinois 2020

[chrroh]

Does 12 alternates mean there will be 6 trial events at state this year? Are there any rumors on what the trial events will be? Does anyone know when trial events will be announced?

There are only 5 trial events at state, and they're usually announced after the final weekend of regionals. I'm not sure which division you're competing in, but Geocaching is always one of them (both middle and high school). Pentathlon is also always a trial event for middle school. Then it gets a little tricky. It used to be a lot easier to predict which events would be trial events, but specifically 2 years ago the pattern just stopped. Since there will be a new flying event next year, you can probably expect that to be a trial event. With Water Quality in its second year, maybe Green Generation/Environment Chemistry could be one (both have been trial events in the past)? I noticed Sounds of Music is also in its second year, that opens the door for maybe a trajectory event to be a trial. The only other one I could think of is It's About Time since Circuit Lab is in its second year. But again, there's not really a consistent pattern anymore. This link (https://www.soinc.org/learn/trial-events) might shine light on what you could expect to see at state.

I heard a claim that the D204 schools weren't taking their state bids again. (That's Gregory, Scullen, and Granger from your list, plus Still, Hill, and Fischer who finished lower down.)

If that's true (and I don't know that it is), then there were 17 teams registered for this regional. Two did not compete, and six more teams are not being permitted to advance to state by the school district, which leaves nine teams actually competing for state bids, one of which only entered half the events. Which would leave eight state bids for effectively eight teams competing, which seems a little silly.

That is very odd, but I believe it. I know Scullen technically qualified for state last year but didn't take their bid. However, I was under the impression that maybe SciOly was a pilot activitiy for these schools and thus explained why they wouldn't take the bid. But this year? I was almost certain that they would maybe accept the bids this year. It's a shame because I actually think all 3 schools that qualified could do very well at state. And it seems very absurd that a regional with 9 teams competing for bids could send 8 to state. I guess we'll have to see if this rumor is true (I'm guessing you're from Metea Valley since your name is "knightmoves," so you probably know more than I do).

[musabkaz6173]

There are only 5 trial events at state

Thank you! Just wondering, why is it 12 alternates if there are only 5 events? I doubt they would have any trial events involving teams of 3, but I might be wrong.

[Nydauron]

Are there any rumors on what the trial events will be? Does anyone know when trial events will be announced?

They're usually not announced until all the regionals have happened. If it follows the pattern of previous years, there will be Geocaching at B and C levels, and probably Pentathlon for B, and there will be a couple of the events that are probably coming next year (Electric Wright Stuff? WiFi Lab again? Crave the Wave / It's about Time?)
Maybe codebusters for B, because it's easy to set up and run.

Pssst! Just to let you know, but the list has already online! (Idk why its not on the state site thou )

These are most likely going to be them:

TRIAL: AWESOME AQUIFERS (B) - Participants will construct an aquifer and answer questions about groundwater concepts.

TRIAL: CHEM CLUE (B) - Participants will answer questions about chemistry related items and/or concepts by means of a set of 5 clues which become more specific.

TRIAL: CRAVE THE WAVE (B) - Participants will demonstrate knowledge and process skills needed to solve problems and answer questions regarding all types and areas of waves and wave motion

TRIAL: ELECTRIC WRIGHT STUFF (B and C) - Prior to the competition teams design, construct and test free flight capacitor powered monoplanes to achieve maximum time aloft.

TRIAL: ENVIRONMENTAL CHEM (C) - Participants will answer questions involving soil analysis to evaluate terrestrial environments.

TRIAL: GEOCACHING (B and C) - Participants will use a handheld GPS device to follow a series of way-points to virtual caches and answer a series of questions.

TRIAL: GREEN GENERATION (B) - Participants will answer questions involving content knowledge and process skills to evaluate aquatic environments.

TRIAL: IT'S ABOUT TIME (C) - Prior to the competition teams will construct a device that keeps track of time without the use of electronics.

TRIAL: PENTATHLON (B) - Teams will compete in an academic and physical pentathlon that will demonstrate the team's overall understanding of the five major Science Olympiad content areas.

TRIAL: SOLAR POWER (C) - Prior to the competition teams will construct a device to collect heat and complete a written test on alternative energy concepts.

TRIAL: SOURCE CODE (C) - Teams will develop and code an efficient computer program that will find a solution to a problem - computer science and mathematics.

TRIAL: WIFI LAB (C) - Prior to the competition teams construct an antenna able to transmit a signal at 2.4 GHz and complete a written test on the principals of electromagnetic wave propagation

I would have been SO down to do Source Code if they offered it 4 years ago

[musabkaz6173]

Are there any rumors on what the trial events will be? Does anyone know when trial events will be announced?

They're usually not announced until all the regionals have happened. If it follows the pattern of previous years, there will be Geocaching at B and C levels, and probably Pentathlon for B, and there will be a couple of the events that are probably coming next year (Electric Wright Stuff? WiFi Lab again? Crave the Wave / It's about Time?)
Maybe codebusters for B, because it's easy to set up and run.

Pssst! Just to let you know, but the list has already online! (Idk why its not on the state site thou )

These are most likely going to be them:

TRIAL: AWESOME AQUIFERS (B) - Participants will construct an aquifer and answer questions about groundwater concepts.

TRIAL: CHEM CLUE (B) - Participants will answer questions about chemistry related items and/or concepts by means of a set of 5 clues which become more specific.

TRIAL: CRAVE THE WAVE (B) - Participants will demonstrate knowledge and process skills needed to solve problems and answer questions regarding all types and areas of waves and wave motion

TRIAL: ELECTRIC WRIGHT STUFF (B and C) - Prior to the competition teams design, construct and test free flight capacitor powered monoplanes to achieve maximum time aloft.

TRIAL: ENVIRONMENTAL CHEM (C) - Participants will answer questions involving soil analysis to evaluate terrestrial environments.

TRIAL: GEOCACHING (B and C) - Participants will use a handheld GPS device to follow a series of way-points to virtual caches and answer a series of questions.

TRIAL: GREEN GENERATION (B) - Participants will answer questions involving content knowledge and process skills to evaluate aquatic environments.

TRIAL: IT'S ABOUT TIME (C) - Prior to the competition teams will construct a device that keeps track of time without the use of electronics.

TRIAL: PENTATHLON (B) - Teams will compete in an academic and physical pentathlon that will demonstrate the team's overall understanding of the five major Science Olympiad content areas.

TRIAL: SOLAR POWER (C) - Prior to the competition teams will construct a device to collect heat and complete a written test on alternative energy concepts.

TRIAL: SOURCE CODE (C) - Teams will develop and code an efficient computer program that will find a solution to a problem - computer science and mathematics.

TRIAL: WIFI LAB (C) - Prior to the competition teams construct an antenna able to transmit a signal at 2.4 GHz and complete a written test on the principals of electromagnetic wave propagation

I would have been SO down to do Source Code if they offered it 4 years ago

Wouldn't that be 7 trial events? Also, where is this posted?

[Nydauron]

They're usually not announced until all the regionals have happened. If it follows the pattern of previous years, there will be Geocaching at B and C levels, and probably Pentathlon for B, and there will be a couple of the events that are probably coming next year (Electric Wright Stuff? WiFi Lab again? Crave the Wave / It's about Time?)
Maybe codebusters for B, because it's easy to set up and run.

Pssst! Just to let you know, but the list has already online! (Idk why its not on the state site thou )

These are most likely going to be them:

TRIAL: AWESOME AQUIFERS (B) - Participants will construct an aquifer and answer questions about groundwater concepts.

TRIAL: CHEM CLUE (B) - Participants will answer questions about chemistry related items and/or concepts by means of a set of 5 clues which become more specific.

TRIAL: CRAVE THE WAVE (B) - Participants will demonstrate knowledge and process skills needed to solve problems and answer questions regarding all types and areas of waves and wave motion

TRIAL: ELECTRIC WRIGHT STUFF (B and C) - Prior to the competition teams design, construct and test free flight capacitor powered monoplanes to achieve maximum time aloft.

TRIAL: ENVIRONMENTAL CHEM (C) - Participants will answer questions involving soil analysis to evaluate terrestrial environments.

TRIAL: GEOCACHING (B and C) - Participants will use a handheld GPS device to follow a series of way-points to virtual caches and answer a series of questions.

TRIAL: GREEN GENERATION (B) - Participants will answer questions involving content knowledge and process skills to evaluate aquatic environments.

TRIAL: IT'S ABOUT TIME (C) - Prior to the competition teams will construct a device that keeps track of time without the use of electronics.

TRIAL: PENTATHLON (B) - Teams will compete in an academic and physical pentathlon that will demonstrate the team's overall understanding of the five major Science Olympiad content areas.

TRIAL: SOLAR POWER (C) - Prior to the competition teams will construct a device to collect heat and complete a written test on alternative energy concepts.

TRIAL: SOURCE CODE (C) - Teams will develop and code an efficient computer program that will find a solution to a problem - computer science and mathematics.

TRIAL: WIFI LAB (C) - Prior to the competition teams construct an antenna able to transmit a signal at 2.4 GHz and complete a written test on the principals of electromagnetic wave propagation

I would have been SO down to do Source Code if they offered it 4 years ago

Wouldn't that be 7 trial events? Also, where is this posted?

Yes, i don't think we've ever had 7 events before (maybe 6 per division idk). It's posted on the volunteer page. As of right now, these are probably the events, but the official rules won't be released til after all the regionals.

[musabkaz6173]

Pssst! Just to let you know, but the list has already online! (Idk why its not on the state site thou )

These are most likely going to be them:

TRIAL: AWESOME AQUIFERS (B) - Participants will construct an aquifer and answer questions about groundwater concepts.

TRIAL: CHEM CLUE (B) - Participants will answer questions about chemistry related items and/or concepts by means of a set of 5 clues which become more specific.

TRIAL: CRAVE THE WAVE (B) - Participants will demonstrate knowledge and process skills needed to solve problems and answer questions regarding all types and areas of waves and wave motion

TRIAL: ELECTRIC WRIGHT STUFF (B and C) - Prior to the competition teams design, construct and test free flight capacitor powered monoplanes to achieve maximum time aloft.

TRIAL: ENVIRONMENTAL CHEM (C) - Participants will answer questions involving soil analysis to evaluate terrestrial environments.

TRIAL: GEOCACHING (B and C) - Participants will use a handheld GPS device to follow a series of way-points to virtual caches and answer a series of questions.

TRIAL: GREEN GENERATION (B) - Participants will answer questions involving content knowledge and process skills to evaluate aquatic environments.

TRIAL: IT'S ABOUT TIME (C) - Prior to the competition teams will construct a device that keeps track of time without the use of electronics.

TRIAL: PENTATHLON (B) - Teams will compete in an academic and physical pentathlon that will demonstrate the team's overall understanding of the five major Science Olympiad content areas.

TRIAL: SOLAR POWER (C) - Prior to the competition teams will construct a device to collect heat and complete a written test on alternative energy concepts.

TRIAL: SOURCE CODE (C) - Teams will develop and code an efficient computer program that will find a solution to a problem - computer science and mathematics.

TRIAL: WIFI LAB (C) - Prior to the competition teams construct an antenna able to transmit a signal at 2.4 GHz and complete a written test on the principals of electromagnetic wave propagation

I would have been SO down to do Source Code if they offered it 4 years ago

Wouldn't that be 7 trial events? Also, where is this posted?

Yes, i don't think we've ever had 7 events before (maybe 6 per division idk). It's posted on the volunteer page. As of right now, these are probably the events, but the official rules won't be released til after all the regionals.

If that's the case, my guess is electric wright stuff goes to Division B and Geocaching goes to Division C. Or another thought: it could be that each school can only participate in 6/7 trial events. Or it could just be an error on the state page stating 12 when it should be 14.

[chrroh]

It's posted on the volunteer page. As of right now, these are probably the events, but the official rules won't be released til after all the regionals.

Wow you're thinking WAY AHEAD of me. I guess we found the trial events!

In theory the official rules aren't posted, but that's actually not true. You could find the rules to a couple of the events right here: https://www.soinc.org/learn/trial-events. They may alter slightly by the time state comes around, but this is a good place to get a head start.

[knightmoves]

That is very odd, but I believe it. I know Scullen technically qualified for state last year but didn't take their bid. However, I was under the impression that maybe SciOly was a pilot activitiy for these schools and thus explained why they wouldn't take the bid. But this year? I was almost certain that they would maybe accept the bids this year. It's a shame because I actually think all 3 schools that qualified could do very well at state. And it seems very absurd that a regional with 9 teams competing for bids could send 8 to state.

Yeah - last year was the first year for the D204 middle schools. And I'm going to call out Gregory on particular (they finished about mid-field last year, but second this year, beating some good teams - I'd imagine they'd finish in the top 20 at state easily, and might even make it into the top 10. They deserve to get the chance to go to state.

So I hope it's not true - both because those kids deserve to go to state, and because a regional where showing up is enough to get you a state bid is a bit silly.

[NSCDS3RdCaptain]

Neuqua Valley

Division B
1st. Hawthorn North - 55
2nd. Gregory - 98
3rd. South - 102
4th. Kennedy - 117
5th. Quest Academy - 119
6th. Wilmette/Highcrest - 120
7th. Scullen - 158
8th. Granger - 172
Alternate: Bednarcik - 198
https://app.avogadro.ws/il/neuqua-valley-regional-b/
**I'll need confirmation on the number of bids given 2 teams didn't compete.

Division C
1st. Neuqua Valley - 64
2nd. Waubonsie Valley - 95
3rd. Metea Valley - 95
4th. IMSA - 111
5th. Oak Park River Forest - 153
6th. Naper Valley - 165
Alternate: Joliet West - 176
https://app.avogadro.ws/il/neuqua-valley-regional-c/

Once again, shout out to the other teams that competed who put in a well-fought effort. And a special congratulations to Gregory, Scuellen, Granger, and Oak Park River Forest for qualifying for the first time! Nice job!

Great job to Gregory and Kennedy! It takes a lot of work to beat South and Quest!
Also, do you think that Old Orchard and Our Lady of Mount Carmel will be strong candidates for AA? They weren't at state last year, but they beat NSCDS and Thomas, two perennial state teams.

[chrroh]

Great job to Gregory and Kennedy! It takes a lot of work to beat South and Quest!
Also, do you think that Old Orchard and Our Lady of Mount Carmel will be strong candidates for AA? They weren't at state last year, but they beat NSCDS and Thomas, two perennial state teams.

I think it's very likely (almost guaranteed) that they'll be in AA. I have seen teams fail to qualify the previous year and then move into AA, it happens all the time. And as you mentioned, both of the schools placed ahead of Thomas and NSCDS. In contrast, I have seen regionals where the A/AA placings aren't aligned with regional placings (mostly for Div. B at IIT and Neuqua Valley). I don't think that will happen here. The general rule is that teams that place in the top half the previous year compete in AA, and returning teams that place ahead of schools from the previous top 25 also compete in that division.

Keep in mind that Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and Old Orchard are also perennial state teams. The reason why they weren't present last year was because Oakton was very competitive for middle school. There were only 8 teams total fighting for 3 bids, which meant that the "strong events" on each team had less weight. Additionally, Sacred Heart completely pulled off an upset. I must say that I was at Oakton this past Saturday and last year, and I was very pleased to see both teams return to state.

**Oh and regardless of which schools go to state from Neuqua Valley, I'd also like to congratulate the teams that competed there. I, too, was very impressed.