Maricopa Elementary Academic League teams complete first round of competition

Name the ship that brought the Pilgrims to America. Which mammal uses a form of sonar to guide it? Who was president during the acquisition of the Texas Territory?

Hopefully, you knew the answers: the Mayflower, a bat and President John Tyler. Fourth graders, competing in the first round of Maricopa’s Elementary School Academic League, correctly answered all these questions.

Santa Cruz Elementary fourth graders (left) competed against Maricopa Elementary fourth graders.

The League, whose first round of competition was held Thursday, involves class competitions among elementary students. Each school has two teams of fourth graders and two more of fifth graders who compete against teams from other elementary schools. Each team has five members, although alternates are available to fill any vacancies on the days of competition.

Styled after the old “Quiz Bowl” concept and utilizing the state academic standards in the core subjects, there are approximately 1,000 questions to be asked and answered. The questions, written by Maricopa Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Flores, came with him from Indiana where he instituted other elementary leagues.

Maricopa’s first round of competition was held Thursday at Santa Rosa Elementary, which hosted Pima Butte. Maricopa Elementary was the second competition site, hosting Santa Cruz Elementary School. Each school’s teams will ultimately compete against every other school. Running total scores will be kept until an overall winner is named.

Maricopa Elementary teacher Linda Christian (center, in black) asked the questions while alternates and other team members listened carefully.


Scores were kept for each competition. Santa Cruz Elementary won both fourth grade events.

In the first round, Santa Rosa Elementary won both fourth grade events and one of the fifth grade competitions. Pima Butte Elementary’s fifth grade A team defeated its Santa Rosa counterparts. Santa Cruz Elementary took both fourth grade sessions and won the fifth grade A team event. Maricopa Elementary won the fifth grade B team competition. Only a few points separated both winners and losers.

Team Members for the four elementary schools were:

Pima Butte
5A: Nathan Frarch, Melissa Dosher, Amoree Harkness, Cheyenne Nielson
5B: Allen Willburn, Brooke Buckland, Aubrey Chaston, Lauren Farrow
4A: Blake Steckenrider, Jacob Ralls, Jacqueline Saunders, Miya Saunders
4B: Brennen Carr, Daniel Olsen, Belle Dihn, Reina Yap

Pima Butte Elementary’s 5A team competed against Santa Rosa’s 5A team (below).

As alternates, teachers and team members listened and watched, the Pima Butte 5A team defeated their Santa Rosa peers.

Santa Rosa
5A: Ben Taft, Bailey Horn, Faith Yi, Seth Bryant
5B: Victoria Kaszubski, Taylor Lemaster, Leah Ng, Damien Raske
4A: Ashley Barber, Luke Spencer, Eda Sezen, Taylor Ireland
4B: Austen Pearch, Morgan Keime, Jessica Bremer, Paige Bollea

Maricopa Elementary
5A: Vaughn Kosmatka, Victor Albarian, Lina Batopis, Kayla Kleinjans
5B: Jorge Carrazco, Whitney Gonzales, Rosie Naranjo, Luc Tieu
4A: Kerianne York, John Locson, Ruben Sanders, Emily Nyman
4B: Monei Nakayama, Ben Perry, Jose Castro, Fuli Reupenny

Santa Cruz
5A: Madyson Carlin, Celina Landin, Annvie Nguyen, Alexander Vu
5B: Megan George, Tatum Shepherd, Brandon Tilley, Lucine Loresto
4A: Kevin Bandin, Jonathon Clark, Alan Potter, Cody Thompson
4B: Morgan Benson, Dalia Cabrera, Logan Rodgers, Albert Wang

The next round of Elementary School Academic League competition will be held after the holidays. According to Pima Butte Principal Janelle Lowey, “The students are excited about proving to the rest of the district what awesome students we have.”