Coming off two first place finishes and a third place finish at state the past three years, the WYSE team hopes to keep the trend going. This trend also includes continuing more than 20 consecutive years of qualifying for state.

“After placing so highly at state the past couple years the expectation is that we’ll get there again this year,” senior John Diffor said.

Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering is an academic test-taking competition run by the University of Illinois. Each team consists of 14 members who are each able to take tests in two subject areas including Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering Graphics/Drafting, English, Mathematics, and Physics. Varsity tryouts will be held this week with competitions beginning in January.

Diffor as well as senior Kristin Koe were an impactful part of the WYSE team last year, Diffor specializing in Computer Science and Physics and Koe specializing in Math and Physics. The two enjoy helping the team through the long competition days where they skip school to take more tests.

“I love taking tests, so joining the team has been fun,” Diffor said.

In addition to Diffor and Koe, the team will also look to seniors Patrick Deneen, Jacob Mattia and Perry Lim, junior Charlie Cutting, and sophomore Rohan Kamatar; all were part of last year’s team.  Filling the roles of last year’s graduated seniors, however, will prove to be a challenge.

“We had some excellent students graduate this past year,” Koe said.

One team member in particular that Koe will miss this year is her brother Kendall Koe who placed first in state in both Chemistry and Physics last year.

“I’ll miss Kendall as a teammate and a brother this year,” Koe said.

Last year’s season ended in a third place finish at the state competition, though the Pioneers mistakenly took home the second place trophy. The team hopes to place even better this year.

“We should be in the top two in state this year,” Coach Jordan Fritts said.

Though there is some pressure on the team, they remain confident about the upcoming season.

“I am looking forward to competitions with what will be a fairly new team,” senior Kristin Koe said. “I have faith that we will be able to step up to the plate.”