New York 2014

[NYC Regional]

Regarding the 10 medals for each event: the board voted to award 10 medals for regions that have 40+ teams registered by Dec. 15th. The cutoff date exists because the medals are ordered on Dec. 16. NYC ended up with a total of 51 registered teams (over 40 by the cutoff) and is currently the largest region in the state (now that Nassau had be divided into two regions). When I first heard of the new policy awarding 10 medals for such regions, I too initially thought it reduced the "value" of receiving a medal. However, and I will use the NYC region as an example, let's look at it this way: it would be perfectly reasonable to award a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place medal to a field of 15 teams. Those top 3 positions represent the top 20% of the teams competing in a particular event. With 51 teams, the top 20% equals 10 teams. The State Competition also had 51 teams so it reasons to extend the policy to that event as well.

Also consider that the top team in NYS tends to finish in the top 10 overall at Nationals (including winning it all a few years back); our #2 team tends to place in the top 15 or 20 out of 60 total teams. Thus, when one competes in the NYS Competition, I believe you are really competing amongst some of the nation's best. While some get to go twice or even three times, for many students this is the only time they will ever compete in the NYS Science Olympiad Competition. I believe awarding the top 20% in each event with medals is appropriate.

[Stromatolite1]

Never saw so much focus on cut-offs until this week. Are these changes posted anywhere? Would teams have known that 10 would be awarded going into this weekends competition?

[caseyotis]

Never saw so much focus on cut-offs until this week. Are these changes posted anywhere? Would teams have known that 10 would be awarded going into this weekends competition?

I'm sure the members of the regions (region? was it only NYC?) that had over 40 members competing knew that they would receive top ten medals.

I have to agree with NYC regional on this, though. Our region of 15 teams awarded medals to the top 4. Although 4th place isn't necessarily amazing, it would still be worthy of a medal. So yeah. I don't feel very strongly on either side of the argument.

[Stromatolite1]

Im all for it too.

[darkdeserthighway]

Will the complete grid be posted anytime soon?
EDIT: Never mind, found it.

[Coach Marz]

Never saw so much focus on cut-offs until this week. Are these changes posted anywhere? Would teams have known that 10 would be awarded going into this weekends competition?

Just to clarify. The info about 10 medals has been posted on the NY website since September. If your region didn't offer 10 medals and had over 40 teams, that means teams didn't register early enough. On a personal note, I think TOP 10 at states is well deserved. Athletes are ranked as All-State for being in the Top 10, why not us

New York Science Olympiad Procedures Adopted September 7, 2013
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REGIONAL COMPETITIONS
Each region will receive, from the state office, trophies and medals for places 1 - 3. Regions with 20 or more teams may qualify for additional trophies and medals if they hold 20 or more events, including the two trial events, and score each team in at least 18 events. These additional trophies and medals include trophies and medals for the first 6 places for each qualifying region. In addition, qualifying regions with 40 or more teams will recieve medals for the first 10 places.
Note: This policy replaces Policy 2 under Regional Competitions from the June 15, 2013 list.

[Coach Marz]

Does anyone have the Columbia Coaches email address? I have some pics of the team on stage and I want to send it to them. Thanks in advance.

[caseyotis]

It was a little weird to give out medals to the top 10 teams, but (correct me if I'm wrong) I believe that *almost* every single team walked away with one.

Roslyn and Hicksville were the only teams that didn't medal, although the latter got a lot of 11th and 12th places.

Well, states are over. It's that odd feeling of "wow, Science Olympiad is over for the year". I don't want to study for next year but I also do. >.>

[Shad160]

Roslyn and Hicksville were the only teams that didn't medal

Yikes. I know Hicksville had problems with getting the ball rolling this year, but I didn't see THAT coming. I hope it lights a fire for next year instead of having the opposite effect.

[caseyotis]

Roslyn and Hicksville were the only teams that didn't medal

Yikes. I know Hicksville had problems with getting the ball rolling this year, but I didn't see THAT coming. I hope it lights a fire for next year instead of having the opposite effect.

They finished 28th if I'm math-ing correctly. Which is pretty rough compared to the last couple of years.