Students from across Oswego County stepped into the shoes of literature’s most iconic detective during this year’s Sherlock Holmes themed Oswego County Academic Youth (OCAY) League competition, held at the DEC Training Facility in Pulaski.

The event, titled “The Game Is Afoot: Sherlock Holmes & the Quest for the Truth,” challenged students to solve mysteries and analyze clues through a full day of academic and creative tasks inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary detective duo.

Throughout the competition, students completed a series of challenges and worked collaboratively to “crack the case.” Tasks included analyzing a crime scene to form a hypothesis, taking quizzes in logic and observation, solving ciphers, completing a sketch-based perpetrator identification activity, and writing a psychoanalysis using a projective psychological technique. The event concluded with the creation of a comprehensive crime-scene board, assembled using clues students collected throughout the day.

This year’s judges, Victor and Laura Licatese, brought decades of educational and psychological expertise to the competition. Victor Licatese, an adolescent psychologist, spent 32 years working in the Hannibal School District and has taught psychology at SUNY Oswego since 1995. Laura Licatese holds a psychology degree from SUNY Oswego and a master’s in education, and previously worked in mental health before teaching in elementary schools across Red Creek, Hannibal and Oswego. Both are now retired.

Judging the event was a full-circle moment for Victor Licatese, who reflected on the competition’s impact during his years in K–12 education.

“When I worked in the district, I used to know the tasks ahead of time and loved selecting students who weren’t traditionally in the top 10 academically,” he said. “Sometimes that meant choosing an art student or an athlete. They felt so good about being selected and were proud to be part of an academic team.”

The super sleuths at Sandy Creek Central School District solved the mystery earning themselves first place overall, followed by Central Square in second and Phoenix in third. Sandy Creek OCAY advisor Christina Hunt praised her students for their dedication and resilience.

“I admire the exceptional work that these students put forth when faced with the challenges presented at this OCAY competition,” Hunt said. “Since Sandy Creek is the smallest district in the county, it is always heartwarming to see our school rise to the occasion and take the number one spot.” OCAY League provides an opportunity for students from across the county to engage in academic and creative competitions throughout the school year. Each of the league’s four annual events centers around a unique theme, encouraging students to think critically, work collaboratively and showcase their skills in a variety of disciplines.

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First-place winners from team Sandy Creek: Simon Preston, Haidyn Soluri, Leia Wall, Grant Harris, Lyndi Fitzgerald, Alyvia Brown, Maiah Owen, Lynn Dumas, Abigail Jones and Rowan McCarthy.