Members of the Columbiana Clippers’ team recently won the 50th Annual Physics Olympics at Youngstown State University. (Submitted photo)

COLUMBIANA — The Columbiana High School physics class, led by teacher Colleen Campbell, was recently crowned champions of the 50th annual Physics Olympics.

The Clippers outscored all valley teams with 107 points. Hickory’s Team B finished second overall with 97 points. Lowellville and Hickory’s Team A were tied for third with 89 points.

Columbiana County’s only other competition school was Heartland Christian which finished with 72 points.

Other districts participating included Ursuline; Poland, which had two teams; Boardman and West Middlesex.

Campbell herself is a former participant in Physics Olympics, which is a regional competition of engineering projects based on the concepts taught in physics class.

“Local schools can add the projects into the curriculum or assign them independently to complement what science students are learning in class.” She continued, “When we study free fall in physics, my students build and test egg drop apparatus.”

Campbell remembers her experience as a competitor. “I had the opportunity to participate in 1997 as a high school physics student in Dan Vargo’s physics class. It was such a fun and memorable way to apply what you are learning in physics that I have incorporated these projects into my physics classes (when) I started teaching in 2005.”

This year’s competition was Feb. 22 at Youngstown State University in Stambaugh Stadium.

Some of the projects were adventures like Hot Water, where students ride a bike to turn mechanical energy into heat; Phloater, where they design and build an air powered boat; Music, where they build original instruments; and Cards, where they build the tallest house of cards possible out notecards.

The Columbiana team consisted of Aidan Bowyer, William Bucci, Preston Buckingham, Katherine Campbell, Thomas Huber, Wyatt Kufleitner, Elena Mackall, Hunter McCuean, Connor McCusker, Richie Rice, Summer Sinsley, and Liam Surgenavic.

Columbiana’s top finishers in group and individual competition were Preston Buckingham and Liam Surgenavic (first) in the Hot Water category; Katie Campbell and Summer Sinsley (first) in the Egg Drop as well as with Elana Mackall (second) in the Music category. Summer Sinsley (first) in the Ping Pong category; Elana Mackall (second) in the Hang Ups category; Richie Rich (second) in the Phloater category; Hunter McCuean and William Bucci (first) in the Cards category.