Eighth grader Airs Thurlow takes a quick rest Wednesday while waiting for the elevator with Ella Jewett at Auburn Middle School. Thurlow and Jewett were moving props for their Odyssey of the Mind rehearsal. The team will compete at the state finals Saturday at Noble High School in North Berwick. The tournament will determine whether the two Auburn teams qualify for the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals at Michigan State University in May. Edward Little High School also has a team. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Eighth grader Tucker Berube rehearses Wednesday with the Auburn Middle School Odyssey of the Mind team. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Seventh grader Ella Jewett has help putting her scrubs on Wednesday during the Odyssey of the Mind rehearsal at Auburn Middle School. Jewett is a member of the team competing at the state finals Saturday at Noble High School in North Berwick. The tournament will determine whether the two Auburn teams qualify for the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals at Michigan State University in May. Edward Little High School also has a team. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Seventh grader Tilly Savage shows the puppet George on Wednesday to her Odyssey of the Mind coach, Jim Rowe, at Auburn Middle School. Savage is a member of the team competing in the state finals Saturday at Noble High School in North Berwick. George will help the team solve the problem “Pirates and the Treasure.” The state tournament will determine whether the two Auburn teams qualify for the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals at Michigan State University in May. Edward Little High School also has a team. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Eighth grader Airs Thurlow, left, and seventh grader Ethan Longley move props Wednesday during Odyssey of the Mind rehearsal at Auburn Middle School. The team will compete at the state finals Saturday at Noble High School in North Berwick. The tournament will determine whether the two Auburn teams qualify for the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals at Michigan State University in May. Edward Little High School also has a team. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Seventh grader Tilly Savage creates George, a prop for the Auburn Middle School Odyssey of the Mind team, Wednesday. George is a crew member for a theme that involves pirates, Savage said. “But he does not have a heart. We stole it.” Daryn Slover/Sun Journal