The EXCEL Science Olympiad team from the middle school competed in the regional competition on March 2 at Candlewood Middle School, placing fifth overall, which qualified them to compete at the state competition in April. They earned medals in the following 11 events:

Anatomy: seventh place; Christine Chen and Brielle Zink  
Boomilever: seventh place; Carly Herrington and Jean Johnson
Circuit Lab: sixth place; Lauren Limmer and Kacey Schassberger
Crime Busters: fourth place; Robert Belcher and Joyce Johnson
Disease Detectives: eighth place; Parker Barry and Eagan Biscari
Dynamic Planet: sixth place; Joyce Johnson and Robert Belcher
Game On: eighth place; Eagan Biscari and Katelyn Wallace
Road Scholar: fourth place; Robert Belcher and Joyce Johnson
Roller Coaster: second place; Parker Barry and Jean Johnson  
Solar System: fifth place; Mia Byrnes and Katelyn Wallace
Water Quality: seventh place; Parker Barry and Ryder Hansen  

“The team has been preparing since September, and all of the late nights and weekend work paid off,” said EXCEL coordinator Julia Johnson. “Islip competed with only 14 students – a full team is 15 – so this is quite an accomplishment.”