Challenge team at Plainfield H.S.–Central Campus makes school history

An academic challenge team at Plainfield High School–Central Campus is making school history by taking part in the state competition for the first time, according to a news release from District 202 in Plainfield.

The team is the Plainfield High School–Central Campus Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineers Academic Challenge Team. The state competition is virtual and will be held April 4 through April 8.

Debbie Pohlman, PHSCC science teacher, has coached the team since 2000, according to the release.

Although the challenge team placed fourth at the sectional competition earlier in March, the team’s overall score qualified them for the state competition, according to the release.

Plainfield South High School also participated and placed ninth, according to the release.

Each team member must take two tests in each subject: biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering/graphics, English, math and physics, according to the release.

Here are the PHSCC team members and where they’ll test at state:

• William Sanza, senior, computer science and physics

• Justin De Leon, senior, math and physics

• Elliott Liss, senior, biology and chemistry

• Jacob Frosch, senior, math and English

• Jenna Rosas, senior, biology and chemistry

• Simon Snydersmith, senior, physics and engineering/graphics

• Luke Hartzell, senior, engineering/graphics and English

• Connor McMillin, senior, physics and math

• Christopher Andaya, senior, engineering/graphics and English

• Mikayla Kelly, senior, chemistry and biology

• Josiah Fornelli, junior, math and English

• Cooper Bartz, junior, math and English

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Engineering WYSE Outreach program managed the WYSE Academic Challenge for 40 years and now Eastern Illinois University oversees it, according to the release.