Cape High Science Olympiad Builds Momentum at UMBC and Princeton Invitations

The Science Olympiad team from Cape Henlopen High School turned in strong performances at two major collegiate invitationals this winter, gaining competitive experience and confidence ahead of the state competition. The team competed Jan. 17 at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Invitational and again on Feb. 7 at the Princeton University Invitational.

At UMBC, Cape earned several top finishes across engineering and science events. Ellie Sprague and Nathaniel Hoang placed third in Helicopter, while William Dorsch earned third place in Machines. In Remote Sensing, Dorsch and Quinton Eisenmann finished second, and teammates Sadie Wakefield and Theodore Noe Fellows captured first place. Dorsch also teamed with Ava Lewis to place second in Engineering CAD. Cape Henlopen’s Blue Team finished sixth overall in the Neighborhood Division.

Sophomore Grace Eanes said the UMBC invitational offered more than just competition. “I thought having the opportunity to spend a day at UMBC was not only great practice for states in March, but also a good way to connect with people on my team and get a feel for what attending college as a science major would be like,” she said. “There were lots of opportunities to talk to graduates and teachers who gave really good life advice and guidance on how to compete better in my events.”

The team continued to build on that momentum at Princeton, where Cape High improved both its overall score and placement compared with last year’s invitational. Senior Navin Duffy said the experience was valuable preparation. “Going to Princeton was a great experience and opportunity,” he said. “I’m happy I was able to go, and it helped me get ready for the state competition.”

“Going to Princeton was so much fun,” said senior Nevaeh Pope as she echoed that sentiment, highlighting the broader experience. “I was able to meet people from all over the country, really experience Science Olympiad, and see a new campus. Princeton is beautiful.”

Cape High will next compete at the Delaware State Science Olympiad on March 7 at The John Dickinson School in Wilmington. Senior Joshua Cohen, club co-president, said the invitationals have positioned the team well for states. “Going to the UMBC and Princeton Invitationals helped our teams get ready for states tremendously,” he said. “I feel like we are ready for March 7th.”

Coach Priscilla Coolbaugh said the team’s progress reflects students’ dedication and the value of competing on college campuses. “Watching the students put time, effort, and joy into Science Olympiad is a wonderful thing to see,” she said. “Their hard work has been rewarded with placing at UMBC and improving at Princeton. It’s important to continue taking students to college campuses so they can see themselves there using these facilities, learning about programs, and experiencing campus life. Our goal is to go all the way at states this year and advance to nationals.”

With steady improvement and a strong slate of results, Cape Henlopen High School Science Olympiad enters the state competition poised for another successful showing.