Team Leadership & The 23 Events
Science Olympiad operates like an academic track meet. Our team fields varsity and junior varsity squads of 15 students each, competing across 23 distinct scientific disciplines ranging from genetics and paleontology to robotics and aerodynamics.
Varsity & Junior Varsity
15 Competitors per Team 2 AlternatesThe 23 Competition Events
Events are categorized into four core STEM pillars. Use the filters below to browse event descriptions and competition formats.
Anatomy & Physiology
In-depth understanding of the human anatomy and physiological organ systems (Cardiovascular, Integumentary, and Muscular systems).
Disease Detectives
Investigate outbreaks of infectious diseases and public health threats using real epidemiological tools, data calculation, and surveillance.
Ecology
General ecological principles, biome dynamics, food webs, ecological succession, and conservation challenges across North American biomes.
Microbe Mission
Explores the microscopic world: bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, microscopy techniques, and microbial genetics.
Forestry
Identification and ecological significance of North American trees, forest health, dendrochronology, and timber management.
Astronomy
Deep-space astrophysics, stellar evolution, celestial mechanics, H-R diagrams, black holes, spectroscopy, and designated DSOs.
Dynamic Planet
Tectonic plates, volcanism, earthquakes, crustal deformation, geomorphology, and geological hazard mitigation.
Fossils
Paleontology, identification of prehistoric life specimens, geological time scale, index fossils, and evolutionary transitions.
Geologic Mapping
Topographic map interpretation, cross-sections, structural geology, strike and dip, and 3D subsurface geological analysis.
Meteorology
Atmospheric science, storm dynamics, severe weather phenomena, Doppler radar analysis, satellite imagery, and forecasting models.
Chem Lab
Hands-on lab experimentation and theoretical questions spanning oxidation-reduction, kinetics, and chemical equilibrium.
Forensics
Chemical spot tests, powder identification, chromatograms, hair/fiber analysis, mass spectrometry data, and suspect implication.
Materials Science
Stress-strain curves, tensile testing, polymer chemistry, crystal lattices, and material properties under mechanical stress.
Optics
Geometric optics, Snell's Law, laser reflection setups in the Laser Shoot box, mirrors, lenses, and fiber optic principles.
Wind Power
Engineering a precision blade rotor to generate peak electrical voltage in a high-speed wind tunnel, accompanied by a theory test.
Codebusters
Decrypting secret ciphers and cryptograms (Caesar, Vigenère, Aristocrat, Patristocrat, RSA, Baconian, Hill Cipher, and Pollux).
Experimental Design
Design, conduct, record, and write a complete scientific research experiment on the spot using mystery materials provided by judges.
Write It Do It
One competitor writes descriptive instructions for a hidden abstract sculpture; the partner builds an exact replica with zero verbal cues.
Robot Tour
Design, build, and program an autonomous wheeled robot to navigate an unknown obstacle track with pinpoint stopping accuracy.
Towers
Construct an ultra-lightweight balsa and basswood structural tower capable of sustaining 15 kilograms of sand load.
Electric Vehicle
Fabricate a custom electric-powered vehicle that accelerates quickly and halts exactly at an undisclosed distance between 8m and 12m.
Helicopter
Design and trim a rubber-band powered balsa helicopter to achieve the longest possible free flight flight-time in high-ceiling gymnasiums.
Air Trajectory
Engineer a pneumatic launching device that releases gravitational masses onto an air reservoir to fire projectiles accurately onto target rings.
How Our Teams Are Structured
Mentor Public Schools organizes Science Olympiad across two distinct competitive divisions.
Middle School Teams (Shore & Memorial)
Because of the size of Mentor Public Schools, 9th graders compete on their middle school's Division B team instead of the high school team.
- Shore Middle School: Division B feeder program
- Memorial Middle School: Division B feeder program
Mentor High School Team
Sophomores, juniors, and seniors compete for Mentor High School. Tournament rosters hold up to 15 students per team, and most members prepare across about three events.
- Mentor High School: Division C Varsity & JV teams
- Official Events: 23 national STEM disciplines
Head Coach
Guiding Mentor High School competitors in technical research, build testing, and tournament strategy.
Mr. Mickey Pugh
Head Coach • Mentor High SchoolDirecting the Mentor High School Science Olympiad program across all 23 competition events and organizing the annual Mentor Invitational.
mentorinvitational@gmail.comHistory of Achievement
Over two decades of competitive excellence representing Mentor High School in Ohio and national invitationals (Division C).
Mentor High School Performance History
Interactive historical trajectory across Regional championships, State meets, and Invitationals.
Division C Competition Ledger
20 Records| Year | Tournament | Level | Team | Placement | Medals | Points | Highlights & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Northeast Ohio Regional | Regional | Mentor High School Red (Varsity) | #2 / 18 | 19 | 98 | Regional Runner-Up • State Qualified |
| 2026 | Kenston Invitational | Invitational | Mentor High School Red | #3 / 30 | 14 | 142 | Top 3 Invitational Finish |
| 2026 | Northview Invitational | Invitational | Mentor High School Red | #5 / 34 | 11 | 185 | Top 5 Finish |
| 2025 | Northeast Ohio Regional | Regional | Mentor High School Red | #2 / 19 | 18 | 114 | State Qualified |
| 2025 | Solon Invitational | Invitational | Mentor High School Red | #8 / 42 | 7 | 280 | National-Tier Field |
| 2025 | Ohio State Tournament | State (OSU) | Mentor High School Red | #9 / 40 | 6 | 340 | Top 10 State Finish • 2 Event State Golds |
| 2024 | Northeast Ohio Regional | Regional | Mentor High School Red | #1 / 18 | 22 | 88 | Regional Champion 🏆 |
| 2024 | Kenston Invitational | Invitational | Mentor High School Red | #2 / 28 | 16 | 130 | Runner-Up |
| 2024 | Ohio State Tournament | State (OSU) | Mentor High School Red | #8 / 40 | 8 | 312 | Top 10 State Finish |
| 2023 | Northeast Ohio Regional | Regional | Mentor High School Red | #2 / 19 | 17 | 120 | State Qualified |
| 2023 | Ohio State Tournament | State (OSU) | Mentor High School Red | #11 / 40 | 5 | 385 | State Competitor |
| 2022 | Northeast Ohio Regional | Regional | Mentor High School Red | #2 / 18 | 16 | 118 | State Qualified |
| 2022 | Ohio State Tournament | State (OSU) | Mentor High School Red | #12 / 40 | 4 | 398 | State Competitor |
| 2020 | Northeast Ohio Regional | Regional | Mentor High School Red | #2 / 19 | 18 | 105 | State Qualified |
| 2019 | Northeast Ohio Regional | Regional | Mentor High School A (Varsity) | #3 / 18 | 21 | 93 | SciOlyFF Record: 21 Medals • State Qualified |
| 2019 | Northeast Ohio Regional | Regional | Mentor High School B (JV) | #4 / 18 | 19 | 103 | SciOlyFF Record: 19 Medals |
| 2007 | Mentor Invitational | Invitational | Mentor High School A | #12 / 37 | 10 | 329 | SciOlyFF Record |
| 2006 | Mentor Invitational | Invitational | Mentor High School B | #3 / 27 | 11 | 192 | SciOlyFF Record • 3rd Place Podium |
| 2006 | Mentor Invitational | Invitational | Mentor High School C | #6 / 27 | 12 | 232 | SciOlyFF Record |
| 2006 | Mentor Invitational | Invitational | Mentor High School A | #11 / 27 | 8 | 294 | SciOlyFF Record |
Mentor SciOly Quick Menu
