LA PLATA, Md. (April 13, 2016)—More than 245 teams—43 from Charles County Public Schools (CCPS)—competed in the Maryland Destination Imagination (DI) Tournament April 9 at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Fifteen teams were recognized for placing in the top five in their challenge and level. Seven of the teams placed first, second or third to advance to the Global Finals Tournament May 24 to 29 in Knoxville, Tenn.
More than 800 students in elementary through high school, in public and private schools, made up 148 DI teams at the regional contest March 12 held at North Point High School. The teams participated in one of eight challenges, and those that placed at the regional event advanced to the state tournament.
The following Charles County teams placed in the state Destination Imagination tournament.
Winners in the Pace of Change challenge are:
• Elementary: Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School, Extreme Bulldogs team, first place. The team is made up of Addison Herbert, Riley Jo Herbert, Addison Pfleegor, Shelby VanCleaf, James Peterson, Steven McPhee and Savannah Trice.
• High: North Point High School, UmmWhat!?!?!, first place. The team is made up of Luke Gibson, Alex Patton, Thomas Walz, Matthew Essing, Charlotte Nottingham, Madison Stanley and Dennis Whitley. Henry E. Lackey/North Point, DI Team, second place. The team is made up of Gabrielle Sandy, Dylan Will, Zachary Will, Jaycee Vermillion and Anne Elise Bolton.
Winners in the In Plain Sight challenge are:
• Elementary: Mary H. Matula Elementary School, DI Warriors, fifth place. The team is made up of Grant Winkler, Allison Ament, Nathan Carter, Cole Michael and Nathan Pankowski.
• Middle: Matthew Henson Middle School, The Scientific Seven, fourth place. The team is made up of Sophia Gerstman, Sydney Hopkins, Ava Leblanc, Carmia Edwards, Marin Patterson, Jorrell Lawton and Asa Gregg. Benjamin Stoddert Middle School, Stoddert DIvine Comedians, fifth place. The team is made up of Amara Kazim, Ihshan Kazim, Christian Gomez, Connor Wright, Alexis Fraser, Sarah Sbordone and Kristen Butler.
Winners in the Get a Clue challenge are:
• Middle: Theodore G. Davis and Henson middle schools, Half N'1/2, first place. The team is made up of Robert Polk, Elizabeth Gerstman, Chase Drewery, Ifeanyi Ijezie, Sydney Prince and Charlyn Rae Canonizado.
Winners in the Close Encounters challenge are:
• Elementary: T.C. Martin Elementary School, D-Eye Watching You, fourth place. The team is made up of Autumn Forsythe, Madelyn Wilson, Lillie Wright, Peyton Lauterborn, Kincade Burroughs, Jada Massey and Danielle Crawford.
• High: North Point, Maurice J. McDonough/Lackey high schools, DI'INCEPTION, fourth place. The team is made up of Christina Murphy, Xavier Prince, Cole Pryor, Logan Steele, Jacadi Tillman, Hannah Gates and Amelia Dudley; and North Point/Westlake high schools, DITWACA, fourth place (tie). The team is made up of Carsen Essing, Kinsey Polk, Hannah McMillen, Emily Decker, Andrew Gausepohl, Sarah Steele and Kelsey Swegle. La Plata High School, Scratch N Sniff, fifth place. The team is made up of Thomas Hume, Brad Ferguson, Luke Glass, Sarah Dawson, Emma Dawson and Mariah Hancock.
Winners in the Musical Mashup challenge are:
• Elementary: Mt. Hope Elementary School, the DI Building Beavers, third place. The team is made up of Donovan Bannister, Kyle Brough, Gracie Butler, Tessah Good, Kailen Harris, Austin Keys and James Ruffin.
Winners in the Meme Event challenge are:
• Elementary: Malcolm Elementary School, 7 Ugly Sweaters, first place. The team is made up of Carly Roberts, Markeisha Warren, Rachel Laurie, Jadyn Toronto, Kirestin Brown, Kennedy Robertson and Harlee Keen. Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School, DI Kids That Kare, fourth place. The team is made up of Dailyn Gaines, Samuel Guzman-Ochoa, Jakei Cobb, Shamiah Proctor, Evann Yake and Justin Morgan.
• High: North Point, DI-B-SM3AC, second place. The team is made up of Arieanna Meyer, Samantha Frias, Brooke Young, Michelle Esparza Pulido, Christen Watson, Mercedee Cooper and Mary Ardita.
Caitlyn Murphy, a North Point senior, received a $1,000 DI college scholarship and the Mitchell Extreme Bulldogs received the Renaissance Award. Mitchell's Extreme Bulldogs, the UmmWhat!?!?! team, the Lackey/North Point DI Team, Half N'1/2, the DI Building Beavers, 7 Ugly Sweaters and DI-B-SM3AC will advance to the DI Global Finals.