so now Uni's back to the 300 division...unlike last year when the team went against unlimited and had the chicago lab school. why did we change?

I have a zillion* (*OK this number is not scientifically accurate) things to say about WYSE, beyond the obvious, namely that I am extremely psyched and pleased that we took another 300 title this year. I could tell you that Uni has tremendous structural advantages, especially as compared with other small schools: even when we do poorly in some categories (no medals in Chem this year and only one 6th place in English) we have enough strength to carry us, unchallenged, to a title. I could tell you it's actually kind-of awkward to carry off yet another huge, flimsy, plastic trophy, knowing how little we did to prepare and how much of a struggle it is for other small schools just to make it to state. Most of all, as a coach, I could tell you how much fun I have, not just in the "hospitality suites" the venues set up for us hard-partying teachers, but hanging out with the team at the various sites. (My only regret this year: leaving the pizza place "early" and missing out on the picture games.)
Instead, I'll tell you all about 2007.
Last year the WYSE authorities took me completely by surprise when they announced that top finishers would be receiving scholarships to attend the U of I College of Engineering. Money changes everything. We are pretty much the only school in Illinois with a serious chance of beating Chicago Lab (bigger schools being forbidden from dropping into the lower divisions) and I'd love to do it; we can beat them if we take the tests seriously. But I'm not going to throw away potential dollars just for the sake of pride. If you're sick of faculty families complaining about paying for college out of their >$200k annual compensation, consider that many Uni families do not fall into this category. Until parents start telling me they'd rather see us beat bigger schools than save thousands of dollars in tuition, I say we stay in 300, where we are more likely to earn first- and second-place finishes.
If this doesn't sound socially responsible, then convince the College of Engineering to find a less-lazy way of handing out WYSE-based scholarship dollars. My obligation is to Uni's team. At least one of our team members just earned $3000 and I'm glad he did.

I wonder how competitors from other schools might feel reading these comments. "We don't bother to prepare, and we still walk in and take all the top prizes." Doesn't that seem boastful, a bit arrogant and unsportsmanlike, and even elitist?

It's almost as if Uni doesn't take this WYSE competition seriously at all. The money isn't exactly supposed to be the point of the competition, is it? I guess in Uni's case, it is, and perhaps that justifies the fact that the team doesn't challenge themselves at all by going to this division. However, what's so great then about Uni winning so many? It was pretty much expected...