Students from AP Computer Science Principles went to Kansas State University to compete in a coding competition. The team had to answer questions about math and logic in 30-45 minute rounds, with teams given two problems in each round. There were about 30 teams competing, and seniors Cody Moose, Zach Deibert and Alex Webber got third place in the advanced division on Nov.1.

Moose thinks all the students from De Soto High School who competed did really well.

“I think we did really well for what we had going in,” Moose said. “We took two teams in the beginners division, and they had mostly no coding experience until …we sat down in class and taught them a couple basics.”

Webber is glad he, along with Moose and Deibert, placed again this year.

“It was a good experience, and it’s always nice getting in the top three,” Webber said.

Deibert enjoys coding, and if he can, would do “a similar [competition] if they have it” in college.

Webber prepared for the competition, along with Moose and Deibert, by looking at past problems from the event.

“We looked at example problems from previous years and I knew how to program, so did Zach and Cody,” Webber said.

Deibert prepared on his own by “doing various projects at other points in the year.”

Overall, Moose thinks that everyone who went should be proud on how they did.

“I’m pretty sure both teams succeeded in at least one problem, and for going from no knowledge on how to program to being able to solve just one problem at that contest is quite an achievement,” Moose said.