WATERVILLE — The number “13” is a lucky one for the Waterville Senior High School Science Olympiad team.

The team this past weekend won the state contest for the 13th year in a row, competing at University of Southern Maine in Gorham.

The 16 students competed against 17 teams from 14 schools around the state, winning seven first-place medals and a total of 17 medals in 23 events.

They now are preparing to head to the national competition, to be held May 31 in Washington, D.C..

The Science Olympiad experience is rewarding and exciting, according to Catherine Johnston, a senior who has been in the program three years.

“It’s pretty much like being on a sports team,” she said. “You really dedicate as much time to this — or more — as you would a sports team. Right before states you prepare every afternoon, usually from 2:30 p.m. to 12 p.m..”

She said that each year, she is driven to be part of the team.

“You sort of get a bug in you that really wants to go back,” she said. “We always joke that we don’t want to be the team to not win.”

Science Olympiad is an international nonprofit organization seeking to improve the quality of science education, increase student interest in science and recognize students and teachers for outstanding achievement in science education.

Tournaments are rigorous team events in which students are challenged to solve problems using biology, earth science, chemistry, physics and technology.