By SUSAN RUMBLE

Special to The Press

Parkland’s Scholastic Scrimmage Team has won the state championship for the 2023-24 school year.

At the April 16 meeting, the board recognized team members who came forward to display their large trophy.

Kellie O’Donnell is the Parkland teacher and advisor for the team which included Thomas Gilchrist, captain; Joseph Peng; Alexander Saccone; Max Averbach; Samith Rohatgi, first alternate and warm-up captain; and Evan Frye, second alternate.

In the televised competition, the Parkland crew defeated four teams as they advanced to the final and won over Northwestern Lehigh.

They then competed at the state level against Delaware Valley High School from Scranton and Fort LeBoeuf from Erie to earn the championship.

David Graf, host of PBS 39 Scholastic Scrimmage and member of the 2001 Pen Argyl team, congratulated the Parkland group.

He said next year will be the 50th anniversary of Scholastic Scrimmage on public television.

Graf invited people to report memories they have from the shows, either as participants or viewers.

State championship honors were also earned by the Springhouse Middle School Math Counts Team which won first place at that level for the second consecutive year.

The team includes Wesley Luo, Lucas Yang, Oscar Liu and Eddy Zhang.

Zhang won the Pennsylvania individual championship for the second straight year and will be captain of the team at the national competition in Washington, D.C.

Kevin Hallman, math teacher at SMS, will lead the team at the nationals in May.

“Congratulations to all of our students for their hard work,” Superintendent Dr. Mark Madson said.

Kerin Steigerwalt, Springhouse Middle School seventh grade teacher, was recognized for receiving the 2024 International Society for Technology in Education Making It Happen award.

The action honors “visionary educators who empower learners and solve tough problems in education and amazing education leaders who are making an enormous impact on their schools.”

The superintendent said Steigerwalt helps students and staff members throughout the district.

“Congratulations,” Board President Carol Facchiano said. “It’s well-deserved.”