Valley teams battle for top honors

JOEL DAVIDSON/Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU - After months of reading, re-reading and endless quizzing, three Valley teams received honors at this year's statewide Battle of the Books Competition, Feb. 15-18.

More than 40 Alaska school districts participated in the event, with a total of 120 teams battling for top honors in their grade divisions.

Su Valley Jr./Sr. High School continued its tradition of fielding strong Battle of the Books teams by tying with East Anchorage High School for second place in the high school division. Su Valley was coached by longtime mentor Gayne Turner and its team members were Jessica Ellis, Paris White and Matthew Krepel, with alternate Crystal Moore.

In the seventh/eighth grade, Midnight Sun Charter School took third place, with Jeanne Troshynski coaching the team, made up of members Sara Cannon, Robyn Hall and Megan Kramer.

At the fifth/sixth grade division, Butte Elementary School tied with West Homer Elementary School for third place. Terri Paulson coached Butte team members Kaden Weaver, Brittni Rutledge, Kaden Holladay and Kcie Owens.

Talkeetna Elementary's third/fourth grade team did not place in the top three, but did come in 11th out of 37 teams in its division.

Contact Joel Davidson at 352-2266, or joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.