NF Valley DI teams show ingenuity

News Release

Published on Thursday, 22 March 2012 13:46

Photo submitted by Carrie Coats Winning first place in the Destination Imagination Competition last weekend was this team from Hotchkiss K-8 School (middle level). Team Manager, Sue Everest is shown with team members Isaac VanHorn, Sienna Progorney, Rory Molacek, Katy Parsons, Megan Lange and Echo Miller-Barnes

The North Fork Valley was mightily represented at the Western Slope Regional Destination Imagination Tournament at Palisade High School on March 10.

Both Paonia and Hotchkiss middle division teams took first place in their categories, and the Hotchkiss elementary team finished second in theirs.

These teams will compete in the State Tournament on April 14 in Denver.

Hotchkiss K-8 had two teams. Their middle level team, Slightly Imperfects, was coached by Sue Everest.

Photo submitted by Deanna Deck

The North Fork Community Montessorri School sent a team to the DI competition. Melinda Merriam and Nefratiri Weeks are coaches of the team named “Ballerina’s Jester Dances Like a Monkey.” Team members are Baruch Chase in kindergarten, Ruby Chase in second grade, Sophia Cox in fourth grade, Andy Nyikos in fifth grade and Liam Nyikos in second grade. Their Challenge was “Coming Attractions.”

Team members are Isaac Van Horn, Siena Podgorny, Rory Molacek, Katy Parsons, Megan Lange and Echo Miller-Barnes.

The Slightly Imperfects took first place in the middle level "Coming Attractions" Challenge. They also received "The Spirit of DI Creativity and Innovation" special award for their instant challenge.

Also representing Hotchkiss K8 in the elementary level was Rhonda Pinckard's team.

Members are Nadia Hill, Xavier Miller-Barnes, Lexi Wrich, Josh Pachl, Taneal Mautz, Adam Smith and Ava Taylor.

This team placed second in the elementary level "Coming Attractions" Challenge.

Paonia Jr. High earned first place in their middle level "Assembly Required" challenge category at the annual Destination Imagination tournament. The team is coached by Kathy Money-Smith.

Paonia Jr. High's team includes Noah Haswell, Chelsea Meilner, Avery Austin, Alicia Wilmore, Haley Park, Brittney Thliveris and Dominic Harman.

Team managers are Kathy Monet-Smith, Tim and Shauna Meilner.

The team received metals, a trophy, and a special award, "Spirit of Discovery and Imagination."

First time teams from Crawford and Paonia elementary schools each finished fifth in their categories. The North Fork Community Montessori School also had a team compete.

Photo submitted by Kathy Monet-Smith

Paonia Junior High School’s DI Team (back row, left to right) are Shauna Meilner, Tim Meilner, Avery Austin, Haley Park, Noah Haswell, Alicia Wilmore and team manager Kathy Monet-Smith; (front row) Dominic Harman and Chelsea Meilner. Not pictured is Brittney Thliveris. They are headed for the State competition.

Crawford Elementary School's team was the Crawford Rockers coached by Ivy Strong. Team members are Alyssa Palecki (fifth grade), Alanna Drennan (fifth grade), Candace Johnson (third grade), Kaya Crawford (second grade), Jordyn Vodopich (second grade), Carter Neff (second grade), and Shaylee Odle (second grade)

This was the first year Crawford School fielded a Destination Imagination team, they placed fifth in the elementary level 'Assembly Required' challenge. The team members and coach gained a tremendous amount of insight and experience in how to creatively tackle the team and the instant challenges they were presented.

Paonia Elementary School's team was Lankstart Eagles coached by Merrily Talbott.

Team Members are Logan Green, Alexis Beller, Niccole Jeffries, Katya Schwieterman, Seraya Talbott-Carey (all fourth graders).

Photo submitted by Sam Cox

Crawford School also sent a DI team to the competition. The team coached by Ivy Strong placed fifth in the elementary level ‘Assembly Requied’challenge.Above a Destination Imagination appraiser asks the Crawford Rockers DI team how they plan to complete their team challenge.

This was the first year Paonia Elementary fielded a Destination Imagination team, they placed fifth in the elementary level "Coming Attractions" challenge. They only started practicing in January, and are very proud of how they did, and had a lot of fun.

North Fork Community Montessori School's team was Ballerina's Jester Dances Like a Monkey coached by Melinda Merriam and Nefertiri Weeks.

Team members are Baruch Chase (kindergarten), Ruby Chase (second grade), Sophia Cox (fourth grade), Andy Nyikos (fifth grade), Liam Nyikos (second grade).

They participated in the "Coming Attractions" challenge.

Photo by Merrily Talbott

Paonia Elementary School’s team placed fifth at the Destination Imagination tournament last weekend. From left to right are Seraya Talbott-Carey, Logan Green, Katya Schwieterman, Alexis Beller and Nicole Jefferis. They are all fourth graders from PES’s Gifted and Talented program. They wrote and performed a four-minute movie trailer advertising their original movie, “West of the Diamond.”

Photo submitted by Carrie Coats

Winning second place was Rhonda Pinckard’s team from Hotchkiss K-8 School (elementary level). Team members include Xavier Miller-Barnes, Lexi Wrich, Josh Pachl, Nadia Hill, TaNeal Mautz, Adam Smith and Ava Taylor. Both Hotchkiss K-8 teams will continue on to the State Level on April 14.

Article Contributors:

Liane Mattson

Kathy Monet-Smith

Carrie Coats

Sam Cox

Merrily Talbott

Deanna Deck

Melinda Merriam

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Category: School