It was another great Regional Tournament for the Groton DIers! On Saturday, March 6, 2010, Groton had seven of their eight competitive teams qualify for the State Tournament. They also had two Rising Stars team present their skits for performances.
The Groton Middle Level Improvisation Team, the DInomites, received a DaVinci award for outstanding creativity and good progression of their story. The Senior Level Improvisation Team, the Sparkling Platycorns, received a Renaissance award for connecting two languages (Spanish and Yiddish) in their skit.
Rising Star teams had to present a news story and create a structure out of newspaper. In Challenge B: DI-Bot, the team needed to create a story that had at least one character’s life changed by Robotic Technology. Challenge C is entitled, You’re Gonna Flip! In this challenge, teams created a story in which a character changed their point of view due to circumstances within the skit. These teams also designed and built their own puppet. Challenge D is the Improvisational Challenge. The title this year is Do or DI! Teams researched 10 items on their way to extinction and 10 stock characters. They then have 7 minutes prepare a skit based on the items they select on their way their performance area. Challenge E was entitled Breaking News. This challenge required the team build a newspaper structure that could hold weight and also research a news story from a different country.
Rising Star teams are non-competitive and are students in kindergarten-grade 2. Groton had two teams present skits at this level. Elementary Teams are comprised of students in grades 3-5. Groton had four teams competing at this level. Middle Level teams are students in grades 6-9. Groton had two teams compete at this level. The Senior Level teams are in grades 10-12. There were two teams at this level also. A total of sixty-two students participated in DI this year.
Julie & Darin Erdmann coached one of the Rising Star teams. Team members include: Dylan Krueger, Tucker Carda, Travis Townsend, Dragr Monson, Sarah Sippel and Tessa Erdmann. Deb Winburn coached the other team. Team members include: Hailey Monson, Cyrus DeHoet, Tiara DeHoet, Jamesen Stange, Isaac Smith and Nicole Marzahn.
The Groton team that participated in Challenge B also placed first and is coached by Janet Wright and Clint Fjelstad. Team members include: Alex Kern, Madison Sippel, Halie Yarborough, Kayla Fordham, Trey Wright and Nathan Fjelstad.
There were two Groton Elementary teams in Challenge C. Glenda & David LaMee coached the team taking third place. Team members include: Amanda Kittelson, Emilie Crosby, Maggie Crosby, Brenna Johnson, Cassandra Townsend, Claire Davidson, and Josie LaMee. The team that placed second was from Deuel. JoAnn Donley and Lisa Adler coach the team that took first place. Team members include: Bailey Zweber, Erika Binfet, Emma Donley, Sidney Donovan, Sierra Kamin, Jessica Adler, and Taylor Holm.
The Groton Elementary team that participated in Challenge D received second place. Deb Winburn coaches this team. Team members include: Erin Smith, Anne Marie Smith, Alex Stange, Hunter Monson, Mitchell Koens, Hannah Lewandowski and Luke Thorson.
The two Middle Level teams each chose a different challenge. One team chose Challenge D – Do or DI. Joni Groeblinghoff and Julie Milbrandt coach this team. The team members include: Gaby Tinglund, Alyssa Sippel, Kennedy Clark, Breanna Marzahn, Katie Groeblinghoff, Luke Smith and Jacob Milbrandt. They tied for second with a team from Aberdeen. The other team selected Challenge E – Breaking News. Deb Winburn and Kristi Anderson coach the team. Team members include: Hayden Anderson, Hailey Bruckner, Jamie Krueger, Lily Cutler, Dakota Gonzales, and Landon Marzahn. They also placed second.
The two Senior Level teams also selected different challenges and both teams placed first. One team selected Challenge C – You’re Gonna Flip. This team is coached by Sandi & Amanda Kern. Team members are: Brittany Gardner, Amanda Fordham, Emily Kern, Jacob Donley and Allen Baker. The other team participated in Challenge D – Do or DI. Carol Smith coaches the team. Team members are: Andee Geist, Carlie Peterson, Heather Koens, Ashley Larson and Marah Smith.
All of the teams that placed first or second will continue on to the state competition in Pierre on Saturday, April 10. Teams that place first there will continue on to the Global Competition May 26 -29 in Knoxville, TN.
