High school students from the Hempstead High School Physics Team recently returned from an impressive showing at the 2022-23 State Physics Competition at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) on Tuesday, April 11th.

The competition included a series of five physics events that stressed creativity and ingenuity as well as an understanding of physics related principles. Over 230 students were present with 24 schools representing Iowa. The top eight scorers in each category added to the team points which helped the Hempstead High School Physics Team earn first place out of twenty teams.

As a result, ten $1,000 scholarships will be gifted to ten students that choose to go into a STEM related field at UNI. The team also had two students earn individual medals as place winners for being one of the top three teams in their categories.

Congratulations to the following students on these honors:

State Team Championship

Hempstead High School Physics Team

UNI Physics Competition Team Winners Hempstead High School 2023

Hempstead High School Physics Team with team trophy

Individual Medal Winners

Measurement Team #1 – 2nd Place

  • Jett Didelot | 10th grade
  • John D’Souza | 10th grade

Bridge Team #1 – 3rd Place

  • Jett Didelot | 10th grade
  • John D’Souza | 10th grade
UNI Physics Competition Place Winners 2023

From L-R individual medal winners John D’Souza and Jett Didelot

Top 8 Place Finishers

Catapult Team #1

  • William Houselog | 10th grade
  • William Scott | 11th grade

Mousetrap Team #1

  • Brett Tomkins | 11th grade
  • Rylan Mours | 10th grade

Mousetrap Team #2

  • Paul Mueller | 11th grade
  • Andrew Chipperfield | 10th grade

Soda Straw Team #1

  • Brett Tomkins | 11th grade
  • Ryan Mullen | 11th grade

Soda Straw Team #2

  • Dawson Fish | 11th grade
  • Charlie Driscoll | 11th grade

Bridge Team #2

  • William Scott | 11th grade
  • John Maloney | 11th grade

Bridge Team #3

  • Hannah Davisdon | 11th grade
  • Ryan Mullen | 11th grade

Measurement Team #2

  • Hannah Davisdon | 11th grade
  • Ryan Mullen | 11th grade

Measurement Team #3

  • Rylan Mours | 10th grade
  • Aiden Quam | 11th grade

State Competitors

Catapult Team #2

  • Hannah Davisdon | 11th grade
  • Rylan Mours | 10th grade

Catapult Team #3

  • Paul Mueller | 11th grade
  • Andrew Chipperfield | 10th grade

Mousetrap Team #3

  • John Maloney | 11th grade
  • Dawson Fish | 11th grade

Soda Straw Team #3

  • Aiden Quam | 11th grade
  • Rian Velde* | 10th grade

*Denotes student that attends Dubuque Senior High School

UNI Physics Competition Competitors 2023

Hempstead High School Physics Team ready for competition