News Detail

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (APRIL 7, 2025) — Williamsport Area Middle School’s Odyssey of the Mind (OM) team will head to the 2025 World Finals after securing a first-place win at the state round on Saturday at Pocono Mountain East Campus.

Five contending teams from WASD were represented by Cochran Primary School, Williamsport Area Middle School (WAMS) and Williamsport Area High School (WAHS).

Advancing to the World Finals are team members Connor Gimmi, Addyson Harrison, Noah Kriger, Hayden Smith, Olivia Smith and Brayden Swanson, who will compete in their Division II problem, “Cooking with Books.”

While not advancing, here’s how the other WASD teams ranked in their respective problems:

• WAHS: third place, Division III, “Cooking with Books.” Team members: Ava Carter, Cooper Gutberlet, Asher McClelland, Mason Robinson, Emma Schwartz and Daniel Turner.

• WAHS: fourth place, Division III, “AstronOMical Odyssey!” Team members: Deegan Bragg, Cooper Gutberlet, Brayden Harpster, Alex Vail, Aidan Weaver and Ben Whitnack.

• Cochran Primary: seventh place, Division I, “Cooking with Books.” Team members: Freya Allen, Felix Fisher, Flynn Moore, Lucas Morrow, Oliver Repella, Anneliese Walter and Cameron Walter.

• WAMS: seventh place, Division II, “AstronOMical Odyssey!” Team Members: Hayden Day, Julia Day, Briella Evans, Haddie Harpster, Alexander Frank and Elianna Matter.

The 2025 World Finals is scheduled for May 21-25 at Michigan State University.

OM teams from WASD have been successful at the programs regional and state levels, having earned coveted spots at the World Final competitions in recent years.

OM is a competition that blends creativity, engineering and teamwork. It is 100 percent student-directed, with adult coaches acting as guides. For more information, or to review synopses of this year’s program problems, visit www.odysseyofthemind.com.

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Pictured at front from left: Addyson Harrison, Noah Kriger and Connor Gimmi. Pictured at back from left: coach Kendra Reeder, Brayden Swanson, Hayden Smith, coach Amanda Gimmi and Olivia Smith.