The first Montana Science Olympiad competition was held on the MSU campus October 15, 1985. Ten events were offered for both divisions: Science Bowl, Pentathlon, Fermi Questions, Titration Race, Rocks to Riches, Qualitative Analysis, Password, Facts in Five, Paper Airplane, and Orienteering.

Teams from 17 school districts competed in the first Science Olympiad with seven junior high and thirteen high schools. The schools participating in the junior high division included: Bozeman, Florence-Carlton, Manhattan, Monforton, Poplar, St. Labre Catholic Indian School, and Willson Middle School. The high school division was made up of thirteen schools: Bozeman, Capital, Dawson County, Drummond, Florence-Carlton, Hellgate, Manhattan, Poplar, Sentinel, Sidney, St. Labre Catholic Indian School, Sunburst, and Whitehall. Student participants numbered just under 300.

The top teams in the First Montana Science Olympiad were: Division B--Florence-Carlton Junior High School, Bozeman Junior High School, and Willson Middle School of Bozeman; Division C--Bozeman High, Hellgate High and Sentinel High. The first place teams for each division competed in the National Competition at East Lansing, Michigan on May 16 and 17. Beginning in 1988, a small school champion trophy was awarded in both divisions.

State Tournament Winners: 1985-Present

Year
Div B - Middle School
Div B - Small Schools
Div C - High School
Div C - Small Schools
2025
Corvallis Middle School
Choteau Middle School
Hamilton High School
Choteau High School
2024
Corvallis Middle School
Choteau Middle School
Hamilton High School
Choteau High School
2023
Corvallis Middle School
HACHE (Helena Area Christian Home Educators)
Hamilton High School
Choteau High School
2022
North Middle School, Great Falls
Emerge School, Bozeman
Hamilton High School
Choteau High School
2021
North Middle School, Great Falls
Emerge School, Bozeman
Hamilton High School
Choteau High School
2020
HACHE (Helena Area Christain HOME EDucators
Absarokee Junior High School
Hamilton High School
North Toole High School
2019
Corvallis Middle School
Absarokee Junior High School
Hamilton High School
North Toole High School
2018
Hamilton Middle School
Absarokee Junior High School
Hamilton High School
Culbertson High School
2017
CR Anderson Middle School, Helena
Absarokee Junior High School
Helena High School
Culbertson High School
2016
Clancy Middle School
Roosevelt Jr High School, Red Lodge & Absarokee Jr High School (tie)
Helena High School
Culbertson High School
2015
Corvallis Middle School
Roosevelt Junior High School, Red Lodge
Hamilton High School
North Toole High School
2014
Corvallis Middle School
Absarokee Junior High School
Fergus High School
Culbtertson High School
2013
Corvallis Middle School
Big Sandy Middle School
Helena High School
North Toole High School
2012
Corvallis Middle School
Big Sandy Middle School
Bilings Central High School
Thompson Falls High School
2011
Clancy Middle School
Roosevelt Junior High School, Red Lodge
Thompson Falls High School
Sunburst High School
2010
Corvaillis Middle School
Thompson Falles Middle School
Helena High School
Sunburst High School
2009
Big Timber Middle School
Roosevelt Junior High School, Red Lodge
Helena High School
Sunburst High School
2008
CR Anderson Middle School, Helena
Clancy Middle School
Helena High School
Sunburst High School
2007
Big Timber Middle School
Roosevelt Junior High School, Red Lodge
Fergus High School
Carter County High School
2006
Big Timber Middle School
Big Sandy Middle School
Fergus High School
Sunburst High School
2005
Big Timber Middle School
Valier Middle School
Big Sandy High School
Cater County High School
2004
Big Timber Middle School
 Clancy Middle School
Fergus High School
Sunburst High School
2003
Big Timber Middle School
Clancy Middle School
Sidney High School
Sunburst High School
2002
Big Sandy Middle School
Fairfield Middle School
Bozeman High School
Carter County High School
2001
Big Timber Middle School
Absarokee Junior High School
Lewistown High School
Big Sandy High School
2000
Big Timber Middle School
Fairfield Middle School
Valier High School
Sunburst High School
1999
Sacajawea Middle School, Bozeman
Clancy Middle School
Valier High School
Fairfield High School
1998
Big Timber Middle School
Clancy Middle School
Valier High School
Big Sandy High School
1997
Valier Middle School
Clancy Middle School
Valier High Schol
Big Sandy High School & Manhattan High School (tie)
1996
Big Timber Middle School
Big Sandy Middle School
Bozeman High School
Valier High School
1995
Big Timber Middle School
Big Sandy Middle School
Bozeman High School
Big Sandy High School
1994
Big Timber Middle School
Big Sandy Middle School
Bozeman High School
Manhattan Christain High School
1993
Big Timber Middle School
Gallatin Home School
Bozeman High School
Manhattan Christain High School
1992
Big Timber Middle School
n/a
Bozeman High School
n/a
1991
Big Timber Middle School
Florence-Carlton Junior High School
Bozeman High School
Florence-Carlton High School
1990
Bozeman Junior High School
Bonner Middle School
Sentinal High School, Missoula
Manhattan Christain High School
1989
Big Timber Middle School
Boulder Middle School
Helena High School
Big Sandy High School
1988
Bozeman Junior High School
Monforton Middle School, Bozeman
Helena High School
Sunburst High School
1987
Bozeman Junior High School
n/a
Helena High School
n/a
1986
Bozeman Junior High School
n/a
Helena High School
n/a
1985
Florence-Carlton Junior High School
n/a
Bozeman High School
n/a