2026 PA Odyssey of the Mind State Finals Sponsored by Juniata College

Saturday, March 28, 2026
Pocono Mountain East Campus

Congratulations to Ryan Nevard from North Penn High School! This scholarship is presented in memory of the OMers from Line Mountain who lost their lives in a tragic accident in 1998.

Problem 3, Div II
Drew Holtzer from Fort Couch Middle School Team A

This OMer has faced many challenges this year. Suffering a severe concussion in October, he lost most of his ability to walk and speak. Trying to recover, he had multiple appointments weekly. Many hours of school, nights, and weekends were spent with doctors. But his love for music and acting could not be diminished. 

Despite speech struggles, and walking with walkers and canes, he routinely showed up for meetings and rehearsals. All throughout this time, he was relearning how to walk and speak normally again. He never used this as an excuse. He showed up for every meeting that did not conflict with a doctor’s appointment. It was exhausting – even walking across a room was an effort. He overcame a lot to be here, showing what it means to be an OMer. 

Problem 4, Div I
Greenwich-Lenhartsville Elementary School

This team showed incredible OM spirit. Just as they were starting, their structure broke. On top of that, they had to compete without their head coach and their main structure builder. Instead of quitting, the team stayed calm and performed with poise and energy. They showed how to work as a team, even when things go wrong. This team is an example of what OM is all about!

Problem 4, Div III
Pocono Mountain West High School

The true spirit of Odyssey of the Mind lives in the unexpected, in moments when preparation ends and creativity takes over. That moment came for this team during their long-term performance. 

At the heart of their skit was a guitar, which was the driving force behind multiple songs and a critical piece of their story. But just moments after the skit began, the unthinkable happened. Behind the backdrop, the guitar fell… and the neck snapped. For many teams that could have been the end, but not for this team. 

Without hesitation, without panic, and without a single word between them, they did what Odyssey of the Mind teaches at its core. The team adapted seamlessly, transforming their performance on the fly. Songs were reimagined with the instruments they still had on hand. The story continued unbroken, uninterrupted, and somehow even more powerful. From the audience, you never would have known anything had gone wrong. 

What could have been a disaster became a defining moment of ingenuity, teamwork, and creative courage. This is what Odyssey of the Mind is all about. Congratulations to an extraordinary team that didn’t just solve a problem – they turned it into something unforgettable.