The Manhattan High Science Olympiad team is continuing the competition season, placing first at their regional competition on Feb. 15.

According to sponsor Dick Nelson, the team received first place in 16 of the 23 events and second place in 6 of the rest. With a combined total score of 34 in the competition — which is scored similarly to golf in that the lowest combined total wins — Nelson said he believes this competition “may be the best regional score MHS has achieved.”

“[The competition] gives students a real opportunity to put their knowledge in practice,” Nelson said. “This [success] is the accumulation of parent and grade school teachers too, not just the students.”

Junior Joanna Park claimed that while state is the team’s ideal goal, winning regionals was still significant to the students involved.

“[Winning] was really meaningful for us,” Park said. “We had a streak going and we really wanted to keep the streak going… it’s just another stepping stone in getting us to state, which we really want.”

Science Olympiad continues on to state competition April 6.