WAUCONDA – The first Wauconda Community Unit School District 118 Interscholastic Battle of the Books Competition ended dramatically on March 25, as the winners had to battle through an exciting three-way, tie-breaking round to claim their title.
Seven teams of fifth-graders from Cotton Creek, Robert Crown and Wauconda grade schools traveled to Wauconda High School to compete in the district’s first Battle of the Books competition.
The contest featured questions regarding 17 books from the 2009 Rebecca Caudill Young Reader’s Book Award master list.
Students were questioned in a round-robin fashion regarding the plot and characters of the books on the list.
Teams were awarded five points for the correct title of the book and one additional point for the author’s name.
Participants were given 30 seconds to consult with one another before answering.
Fifth-grade teacher Michaline Schmidt of Wauconda Grade School said the competition was a big deal to her students.
“This morning my students felt extreme excitement and overwhelming nervousness,” she said.
The close competition concluded with a tie-breaking round between three teams, which en
ded with several girls from Wauconda Grade School emerging victorious as the first-ever District 118 Battle of the Books champions.
The winning team, comprised of Sabrina Caudle, Madeline Good, Karolina Grzegorczyk, Allison Inglimo, Sara Sexton, Dana Wasicke and Jordan Wickel, won a specially selected book. All participants received a certificate.
In attendance were fellow grammar school students who were bused in for the mid-day fieldtrip, judges, teachers, librarians, parents and WHS staff members.