Whitewater Students Demonstrate Literacy Skills in Battle of the Books Competition

WHITEWATER, WI — Students across the Whitewater Unified School District showcased their literary knowledge in the district-level Battle of the Books competition last week.

Sponsored by the Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association, the program challenges students to read and master 20 books from a preselected list. Book lists were published last June, allowing students and staff to begin their reading journey.

Under the leadership of District Library Media Specialist Kathy Retzke, library lessons in November 2024 introduced students to the competition format. Teams of up to four students were formed, and each was responsible for dividing and conquering the reading list. Over the next 10 weeks, weekly meetings led by library staff provided opportunities for collaboration, comprehension exercises, and practice questions.

Originally launched at Lakeview Elementary under the direction of former library paraprofessional Jerre Sveum, the program expanded district-wide three years ago. This year marks the addition of a high school team. Participation has soared, with 89 students across 26 teams competing from 4th to 11th grade.

“The Battle of the Books program is a fantastic example of how reading can bring students together in a fun, competitive, and educational way,” said WUSD Superintendent Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty. “Seeing nearly 90 students from across our district dedicate themselves to reading, teamwork, and critical thinking is truly inspiring. Their hard work and collaboration exemplify the kind of engaged learning we strive for at WUSD. We are incredibly proud of all our participants and look forward to seeing how our teams perform at the state competition.”

The winning teams from each school will advance to the statewide Battle of the Books competition later this month, competing virtually against 250 elementary schools, 160 middle schools, and 70 high schools. Below are the teams that will represent WUSD:

Lakeview Elementary – "Grumpy Monkeys"

Finley Bunger
Cecilia Harris
Madison Loveall
Chloe Swaney

Lincoln Elementary – "Spicy Chicken Wings"

Keagan Acker
Zander Christon
Keaton Kachel
Logan Pinterics

Washington Elementary – "Reading Costco Guys"

Nathan Akosung
Amaury Garcia-Ostria
Rusbel Mateo

Whitewater Middle School – "The Red Knights"

Cam Avilla
Aurora Gerblick
Madelyn Taylor

Whitewater High School – "The Final Brain Cell"

Vivian Harris
Virginia Nelson
Letty Trautman