Invitational

Background
An invitational tournament is a friendly, no-stakes competition that allows for Science Olympiad teams to practice for events. They are a way of practicing for qualifying tournaments such as regionals, states or nationals. These are often organized by individual schools, and sometimes colleges or universities. Generally a few invitationals will run during November and occasionally October, with substantially more in December. By far the most invitationals are run in January, with the rest finishing in February and early March

Most invitational tournaments mimic a real competitive tournament, and they hand out awards for individuals and teams. Some invitationals will hold all 23 events, while other invitationals may choose not to hold events. Invitationals also can hold alternate events as well.

Team Setup
Typically, schools are allowed to bring up to two teams of 15 people each. Trophies are generally presented to the top schools, not the top teams. Medals are typically awarded for the top 3 places. Ribbons are sometimes awarded to 4th place to 6th place; some invitationals even award 7th and 8th place.

In some states, such as Illinois, there are "Junior Varsity" and "Varsity" divisions, which allow for schools to bring less experienced students to be placed in an easier competition to get awards.

List of Invitationals
This is a list of invitational tournaments during each competitive season. It currently goes back to the 2012-2013 season. The lists are not comprehensive; however, with the exception of 2013-2014, they are mostly complete. In the teams column, the forward slash separates the number of teams in each division; Division B is listed first, while Division C is listed second.

2016-2017 Season
Ordered first by State, then by Division, then by date (then alphabetical).


 * 1 A second team from Brookwood High School finished in second with 72 points.
 * 2 A second team from Chattahoochee High School finished in second with 150 points
 * 3 A second team from Seven Lakes High School finished in second with 151 points.
 * 4 A second team from Seven Lakes High School finished in second with 127 points.
 * 5 A second team from Seven Lakes High School finished in second with 55 points.
 * 6 A second team from Seven Lakes High School finished in second with 86 points.
 * 7 A second team from Beckendorff Junior High School finished in second with 99 points.
 * 8 Kealing Middle School tied with Riverwood Middle School with 108 points. An unorthodox method of breaking ties gave Kealing the victory; with the national tiebreak method, Riverwood would have won the tiebreak.
 * 7 A second team from Meads Mill Middle School finished in second with 147 points.