Problem Solvers in Action: Carroll’s Odyssey of the Mind Teams Advance

Southlake Dragons are headed to the Odyssey of the Mind State Championship next month, after delivering a powerhouse performance at the Regional meet.

Overall, twenty teams and 135 students represented Carroll ISD, showcasing exceptional creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. The competed against 46 other teams from across North Texas earlier this month at the 2026 Odyssey of the Mind North Texas Regional Competition. Their efforts resulted in 16 Carroll teams advancing to the Texas State Finals. Two of our teams also received the prestigious Ranatra Fusca Award—the highest honor in the Odyssey of the Mind—recognizing extraordinary creativity, innovation, and risk-taking.

Odyssey of the Mind is a creative, team-based competition for students in grades 3–12 that emphasizes out-of-the-box thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving through a blend of STEM, arts, and performance. Teams of up to seven students select one of five open-ended, long-term problems developed each year and spend months designing and building their own solutions. At competition, teams present their work through an eight-minute skit and also tackle spontaneous problems that test quick thinking and teamwork.

Across elementary, intermediate, middle, and high school divisions, Southlake teams earned multiple top finishes, reflecting the strength and depth of the district’s creative problem-solving programs.

Pictured in the photo above are members of the Rockenbaugh Team, which earned a first place finish. 

While each team has an adult coach, all ideas, designs, and solutions must be created solely by students. Odyssey of the Mind is a nonprofit, volunteer-led program that builds creativity, confidence, leadership, and real-world skills such as project management and collaboration.

We are proud of every Southlake Carroll student who participated and look forward to cheering on our 16 advancing teams as they prepare for the Texas State Competition on March 28 at San Jacinto College South Campus in Houston.

For a full breakdown of competition results, visit txodyssey.org.

Congratulations to all of our talented Odyssey of the Mind teams on an exceptional showing.