Academic Olympians compete well

Basketball isn't the only game in town in southeast Montana. Local students were also pitting their academic skills against each other at Academic Olympics, which was held March 5 and 6 at Miles Community College.

Tuesday, March 5, was junior high competition. Nineteen teams competed in written and oral competition. Representing Ekalaka were Jaden Pardee, Heidi LaBree, Codi Melton, Kendall Kittelmann, and Jennie Schmid. They won one round and lost two in oral competition. On the written test, Pardee placed fifth for eighth grade and Kittelmann 12th for seventh grade.

Wednesday, March 6, was high school competition. Twenty-four teams faced each other in standard, wrestling-style brackets. Tori Tooke, Wyatt Kittelmann, Whitney Kittelmann, Ryan Rychner, Turner Tooke, and Rose Rychner played several rounds throughout the afternoon and completed their day facing a tough team from Jordan to garner a 4th place win in the oral rounds. Caleb Fix, Heather LaBree, Hannah LaBree, Jared Pardee, Kenzie Tooke, and Gracie Tooke hung on in the oral competition and played five rounds.

Two students earned honors for placing in the top eight on the written test: Turner Tooke placed seventh for freshmen and Jared Pardee placed second for sophomores. Several CCHS students were just out of ribbon contention. Sophomore Ryan Rychner placed 9th. For juniors, Wyatt Kittelmann was 9th, Hannah LaBree 10th, Whitney Kittelman 11th, and Heather LaBree 12th. Caleb Fix finished 11th for seniors with Tori Tooke right behind in 12th. Both teams' combined written scores merited placing 6th and 7th on the written exam.

Coaches Jana Fix, Cathy Frye, Sharon Carroll and Maxine Morgan were very pleased with the performance of the scholars and credit their teachers and parents for promoting strong academics at Ekalaka Public Schools. Thank you also to MCC for hosting the event and SEMASS (Southeast Montana Association of School Superintendents) for sponsoring it. Area coaches were readers and scorers at the event. Many area educators take on responsibilities of organizing including Chairwoman Jacy Collins, registration manager Michelle Petersen and bracket specialist Diane VanGorden. Without their dedication, this event would not happen.