Students from all four Polk County elementary schools matched wits on Thursday in the Polk County Elementary Battle of the Books Competition, held at Polk County Middle School.
Teams of 12 fourth and fifth graders from the four schools took part in a series of matches in the school auditorium, focusing on 18 books designated for the competition. Each round between two of the four schools consisted of 12 questions, with students given 20 seconds to answer a question after being asked.
To correctly answer a query and earn three points, students had to respond to a question with the title and author of the related book. Each school took part in three rounds, with the county champion being the school with the most total points from those rounds.
That honor went to Tryon Elementary School, who took top honors and will now represent Polk County in the regional Battle of the Books competition in Asheville in late April.
Polk Central Elementary placed second, with Saluda Elementary and Sunny View Elementary tying for third.
Members of the victorious Tryon Elementary team included: Cade Bright, Lawson Carter, Gracie Edwards, Brianna Gray, Jeffrey Gray, Sarah Gray, Brooklynn Lewis, Neil Rostick, Riley Ballentine, Cameron Hodges, Ramey Martin, Madison Sparks-Trumble and Taylor Clark (alternate). Team coaches were Jamie Kilgore and Stephanie Ford
The other teams competing in the event included:
Polk Central Elementary
Elena Carroll
Clay Davis
Kai Goldstein
Conner O’Shields
Felicity Rivera
Caroline Taylor
Sherrie Ford, Coach
Saluda Elementary
Zetta Anderson
Savannah Barnwell
Adison Broyles
Mya Freeman
Bennett Jacobus
Maggie McCammon
Alisha Richardson
Gabby Towne
Arianna Wood
Davis Young
Kevin Burnett, Coach
Sunny View Elementary
Banks Barber
Tyler Caldwell
Catalina Helton
Gabriella Helton
Katrina Helton
Kynley Lawter
Dakota Searcy
Joshua Weis
Angela Hall, Coach
