Our DI Teams are "DI-efinitely" Heading to State!

by: Stevie Harlow

This past weekend the Destination Imagination teams had their Regional Competition in New Holstein. Little Chute High School’s four teams have been working on their challenges since early October all for this day, and it was all well worth it. The Ehlke team consisting of Dell Seefeldt, Abby Kramer, Jake Vanderwyst, Sadie Tourville, Stevie Harlow, Jacob Schmeider, and Jessica Missall competed in Challenge A ‘Pace of Change’ taking first place and qualifying to the state competition on April 16th at UW Stevens Point. Mindy Dove’s team with Gabe Dove, Janelle Fisher, Marki Hietpas, Justin Schuman, Destiny Fay, Kyra Wildenberg, and Tommy Mlodzik competed in Challenge C ‘Get a Clue’ and took second place also qualifying for the State Competition. This team also won the “Renaissance Award” which is given for extraordinary engineering and craftsmanship in regards to a 1920’s Rolls Royce car made entirely out of cardboard. The Improv team with Quin Stuyvenberg, Jessica Boesch, Kelsey Weidman, Bryce Van Camp, Jack Delvaux, and Jonah Hamman coached by our beloved Mr. Frankenberg took second and will be competing at State. And finally The Challenge E team, coached by Mr. Greuel with Jon Schertz, Brittney Wettstein, Ashley Smith, Randy Estevez, and Andy Schmidt, took first and will be moving on to state as well.

Including the elementary, middle, and high school teams,  Little Chute had 10 DI teams this year. All 10 received awards with 9 advancing to State. The teams now have five weeks to improve what they have before the state competition. If a team places in the top two they qualify for the Global Final competition in Knoxville, Tennessee. Little Chute has had at least one team go to Globals for the past decade, so everyone is giving it their all to keep the streak going. At the regional competition, the seniors also all received a special award. Since the Global Final competition will sometimes land over high school graduation, they have a special ceremony in Tennessee for all the graduates. They get to walk the stage and receive a special diploma. At the competition, DI gave all the seniors who competed a special tassel for them to wear at their graduation. The teams are working harder than ever to get ready for state. Competition takes place on Saturday, April 16th at UW Steven’s Point. Come watch and see all the amazing things these students have created! Competitions are full of excitement and energy the whole day; it will be a great TIME!