Whitewater Unified School District students earned top placements in the Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association (WEMTA) statewide Battle of the Books competition, demonstrating their dedication to reading, teamwork, and critical thinking.

Students from Lakeview Elementary, Washington Elementary, Whitewater Middle School, and Whitewater High School competed against hundreds of schools. Whitewater High School’s team, “The Final Braincell,” placed third among 65 high schools. Meanwhile, Whitewater Middle School’s team, “The Red Knights” finished 19th. At the elementary level, Lakeview Elementary’s “Grumpy Monkeys” secured 23rd place, while Washington Elementary’s “Reading Costco Guys” placed 41st out of 259 teams.

“We are incredibly proud of our students’ dedication and enthusiasm for this program,” said Kathy Retzke, WUSD Library Media Specialist. “This competition is about more than books—it’s about teamwork, comprehension, and critical thinking. Our students put in countless hours preparing, and their hard work has certainly paid off.”

Each year, book lists for Battle of the Books are released on June 1, and teams form in November. Students read and analyze 20 books before competing in quiz-style “battles” in late January. Weekly meetings with advisors help teams refine their strategies and deepen their understanding.

To view full statewide rankings and more information, visit the WEMTA website at https://sites.google.com/wemta.org/battle/home.

Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by the Whitewater Unified School District.