Two more teams - one middle school team and one high school/middle school team - just missed making the trip to worlds with a third-place finish at the state finals.
The Page Elementary team of Shelby Robinett, Marian Gielincki, Erin Sukup, Whitney Ruger, Tyne Bufka, Emily Fliearman and Margaret Richards finished second at the state finals to earn their spot at worlds.
The middle school team of Kendall Benson, Rachel Shoemaker, Sierra Morton, Cate Densham, Abigail Luepnitz, Natalie Alden, and Zach Maring also earned a second place rating at state to advance.
The TK High School team of Jacob Maring, Emma Chapman, Grace Densham, Zane Walters, Clair Jansma, Anna Miller and Wyatt Crampton will advance to the world contest with a second place honor at state.
In addition to the three teams advancing, TK also had two teams narrowly miss making it to the world finals by placing third at state. The high school/middle school team of Brinkley Ward, Jenna Walters, Abigail Bremer, Megan Losey, Reese Verlinde, Brooks Luepnitz and McKenzy Hogan received medals at the state finals awards ceremony.
The middle school team of Courtney Haveman, Christel Hoskins, Kelly Gasser, Brendan Carlson, John Plummer, Michael Brown and Ellie Essenburg finished in a tie for third place in their division. Unfortunately, OM officials failed to recognize the team or give them their medals during the state finals awards ceremony. It wasn't until coaches Sheryl Haveman and Rebecca Hoskins looked at the scores and realized the error. OM officials recognized the error and will be sending medals to honor the team.
TK was also represented by two additional teams who advanced to the state finals. The Page Elementary team of Cecilia Essenberg, Cash Rabley, Emilia Rickert, Charlotte Nelson, Drake Holzhausen, Evinne Reed, and Josie DeBoer earned an honorable mention sixth place finish at state.
The Page Elementary team of Michael Sager-Wissner, Juan Aguiar, Mallory Hagemann, Isabella Szukala, Shannon Szukula and Gabe Rose also earned the opportunity to compete at the state level in a very tough division.
Thornapple Kellogg Schools hosted the state finals competition, bringing in hundreds of team members, coaches and visitors to the district.