Team finishes fourth among 17 schools and earns medals in eight events

Twenty-four students from Bedford Middle School represented Westport Public Schools at the 2026 Connecticut Science Olympiad Tournament on Saturday, March 14, held at Captain Nathan Hale Middle School in Coventry, Connecticut. Competing against 17 teams from across the state, the Bedford team delivered an outstanding performance, finishing fourth overall and earning medals in eight of the tournament’s 23 events.

Among the highlights of the day, Andrew Hartono and Rohan Gowthaman earned first place in the Remote Sensing event, where students analyze and interpret satellite images of Earth. Ryan Ismael-Bakkali and Rohan Gowthaman also captured first place in the Solar System event, demonstrating their knowledge of planetary science and celestial objects.

The competition also showcased the inclusive spirit of the program. Three Bedford Middle School special education students participated in five different events during the tournament and earned eighth place in two of those competitions, highlighting their dedication and teamwork.

This year marks the 12th year Bedford Middle School has participated in Science Olympiad. Approximately 40 students were involved with the program during the season, spending more than 100 hours after school preparing for events with coaches Daniel Cortright and Caitlin Quinn. Throughout the year, team members traveled to five competitions across four states, gaining valuable experience in scientific inquiry, collaboration, and problem-solving.

“Science Olympiad gives students a chance to dive deeply into topics they love, build things, test ideas, and work together as a team,” said Daniel Cortright, Bedford Middle School teacher and Science Olympiad coach. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see their excitement when that hard work pays off.”

Additional support for the team came from staff members across the school community. Olivia Enhoffer traveled with the team to support students, while Sue Mitchell coordinated bus contracts, field trip logistics, and reimbursements to help ensure the program’s success.

Students representing Bedford Middle School at the 2026 Connecticut Science Olympiad Tournament included:

Ryan Ismael-Bakkali
Yulia Kosternichenko
Rohan Gowthaman
Logan Warnke
Chase Hamilton
Hamzah Yektah
Daniel Chaney
Leanne Wong
Madyan Hemdan
Andrew Hartono
Brooke Burdeshaw
Danielle Tom
Aarohi Dani
Katherine Li
William Wang
Jaden Jhun
Amy Hu
Mila Diggin
Adelaide Ormsbee
Sebastian Ferreira
Lucas Guo

Also competing as part of the team were Staples High School ninth graders and Bedford Middle School alumni:

Karina Chabria
Sophia Muriel
Maya Luo

The Science Olympiad program encourages students to explore science, engineering, and technology through hands-on challenges and collaborative problem-solving. Bedford’s strong showing reflects months of preparation and a shared enthusiasm for scientific discovery among students and staff alike.