SciCat News

Strong Start at H&H Fuels Momentum Into December

The season is officially underway as our teams traveled to Troy, MI for the annual Hawk & Hornet Invitational, co-hosted by Saline High School and Troy Athens High School and held this year at Troy-Athens. As the first invitational of the season, the event offered an important early benchmark. The Gold Team earned an outstanding 2nd place overall, while the Black Team secured 18th.

Beyond the results, the invitational provided valuable experience as students tested their preparation under real competition conditions. With event strategies sharpening for new and returning events alike, the teams return home with clearer goals and renewed motivation.

Now, the focus shifts to our own invitational on December 6th, hosted just after Thanksgiving. A reminder that all members are required to contribute a donation to support the invitational and help ensure a smooth and memorable experience for all participating schools.

If November is any indication, the season ahead promises growth, challenge, and excitement as we continue building toward a standout year.

Season Kickoff Sets Stage for Competitive Year

The team has hit the ground running this season after being selected from a pool of over 45 applicants. With rosters now finalized, studying is in full swing as we prepare for the upcoming Hawk & Hornet Tournament, where they'll face their first major test of the season. Team chemistry is building quickly as members work to master new strategies for new events such as hovercraft and water quality, and refine their skills. Dedication during these crucial early weeks will be essential as we look to defend our 1st place title from the last year and set precedent for what promises to be a challenging tournament schedule ahead. 

In addition to the start of the season, events were drafted among team members, team apparel designs were chosen, and we voted on the name of this year's mascot. Voting had to occur twice. The original vote was questionable, with (mostly light-hearted) accusations of voter fraud, and a recount was demanded. The issue was contentious, but the final name selected was a compromise, a combination of the top 2 contenders: Spheven Seal-Roth

-R. Amin

Placements Testing

This year's placement process proved to be competitive, with over 45 applicants navigating a two-tiered placement testing system identifying 36 team members and placing them on one of the 3 teams. The first round of tests served as a filter to determine which of the 45 would advance, followed by a second round of assessments that ultimately placed members on Black, Gold, or White teams based on performance. 

The testing was notably challenging, resulting in several unexpected upsets that caught many by surprise. Despite the competitive tension, the nature of placements had a galvanizing effect on the entire group, motivating everyone, regardless of their final team assignment, to stay sharp and continue pushing themselves.