The Wharton Sports Analytics and Business Initiative, in conjunction with Wharton Global Youth, was excited to host the Wharton High School Data Science Competition: Soccer Playoff Predictions. Using comprehensive data from a simulated professional soccer league, teams of high school students from around the world crunched the numbers and made win-loss predictions about the league’s playoffs. Read about the finalists here.
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Congratulations to the Winners!
1st Place Team
HW_AnalyticsFC, Harvard-Westlake School, Studio City, CA
2nd Place Team
STEM Wolves, Downingtown STEM Academy, Downingtown, PA
3rd Place Team
CR North, Council Rock North High School, Newtown, PA
Honorable Mention
FC TAMS, Texas Academy of Mathematics & Science, Denton, TX
Thank You to Our Judges
Ryan O’Hanlon
Author, Net Gains: Inside the Beautiful Game’s Analytics Revolution
Ella Papanek
Quantitative Sports Trader at Susquehanna International Group
Seth Partnow
Director of North American Sports at Statsbomb
Adi Wyner
Wharton Professor Statistics and Data Science, Co-Director Sports Analytics and Business Initiative
Reasons to Compete
Participating in the Wharton High School Data Science Competition: Soccer Playoff Predictions is a fantastic way to develop your data analysis and prediction skills through the lens of sports, all while having fun with your friends. The experience and problem-solving skills you develop through this competition are applicable to your every day life outside of sports analytics.
Additionally, teams that perform the best will be recognized on the Wharton Sports Analytics and Business Initiative’s website, which could be a great addition to your resume.
How it Works
Who Is Eligible?
This competition is open to high school students worldwide. “High school” is typically secondary-level (no younger than 14, no older than 18 at the start of the competition), pre-university education, as defined by country (e.g., generally 9th – 12th grade in the United States). We suggest participants have completed Algebra 1. There is no cost to participate.
Get Your Team Ready
Each team should have 3-5 students who are currently enrolled at the same high school. Teams are required to have one advisor, who is an employee of the school or school district the team attends. If the high school has various branches, teams must be comprised of students and an advisor from the same branch.
Register
Advisors are responsible for registering their team(s). Students are NOT permitted to register for the competition on their own behalf or on behalf of their team. Teams in violation of this rule will be ineligible to compete.
Analyze
Data will be released to participants. Along the way, we will share videos and other educational resources to help you with this part of the competition.
Questions?
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.
If you’re a high school student or teacher seeking additional learning opportunities, please visit the Wharton Global Youth Program to discover the wide range of opportunities designed to educate and motivate pre-collegiate students.