Century High's Science Olympiad Team Soars to New Heights

After their best season in over 20 years, the school's science team is building momentum for the future.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 11:35am

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Century High School's Science Olympiad team had a breakout season, ranking second at the Minnesota state tournament. The team attributes their success to a focus on building a strong team culture and structure, allowing them to leverage their collective knowledge. Now, they're working to sustain that momentum by fundraising for resources and travel to more competitions, aiming to provide opportunities for all students interested in STEM.

Why it matters

Science Olympiad competitions provide valuable hands-on STEM experience for students, helping them develop crucial collaboration and problem-solving skills. Century's strong performance highlights the impact a well-structured team can have, inspiring other schools to invest in their own science programs. Additionally, the team's efforts to make resources more accessible could open up new pathways for students who may not otherwise have the means to participate.

The details

This season, Century's Science Olympiad team took first place in three events, second place in five events, and third place in three events at the state tournament. They've been steadily improving over the past few years, going from 14th place in 2023 to 8th in 2025 and now 2nd in 2026. The team's success is attributed to their focus on building a cohesive team structure and culture, allowing them to leverage their collective knowledge across the 23 different competition categories.

  • Century High School's Science Olympiad team ranked second at the Minnesota State Tournament in February 2026.
  • In 2025, the team took 8th place at the state tournament, followed by 10th place in 2024 and 14th in 2023.
  • This year, the team finished second out of 68 teams at the UW-River Falls Invitational.

The players

Pranavagurubaran (Guru) Senthilkumar

A student on Century High School's Science Olympiad team who credits the team's success to their focus on building a strong team culture and structure.

Colin Chen

A student on the Century High School Science Olympiad team who emphasizes the importance of collaboration as a key skill developed through the competition.

Yash Saoji

A student on the Century High School Science Olympiad team who says the club is a great way for students to explore different STEM fields and discover their passions.

Century High School

The school in Rochester, Minnesota that fields a highly successful Science Olympiad team, ranking second in the state this year.

Mounds View

The state powerhouse Science Olympiad team that finished ahead of Century High School at the Minnesota state tournament.

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What they’re saying

“The real intrinsic value of Science Olympiad, I feel, is that it's very unique in an academic competition in that it forces you to work together.”

— Colin Chen, Student, Century High School Science Olympiad Team

“We're trying to close the gap between resources and kids who want to participate. Because there's quite a few students who don't have the resources to participate who would. And we'll never know how good they do unless we give them that opportunity.”

— Pranavagurubaran (Guru) Senthilkumar, Student, Century High School Science Olympiad Team

“At the end of the day, we all just have a passion for learning. I think Science Olympiad is probably the best club for figuring out what you want to do.”

— Yash Saoji, Student, Century High School Science Olympiad Team

What’s next

The Century High School Science Olympiad team is already working to fundraise for next year's season, aiming to secure the resources and travel opportunities needed to build on their recent success and maintain their momentum.

The takeaway

Century High School's Science Olympiad team has demonstrated the power of a cohesive, collaborative approach to STEM education. Their strong performance not only highlights the value of hands-on learning and problem-solving, but also underscores the importance of ensuring all students have access to the resources and support needed to explore their scientific interests and develop critical skills for the future.