MADISON – A team from Denmark High School took first place in the 2024 Wisconsin Civics Games state championship Friday at the Capitol in Madison. Eighteen teams from 15 schools participated in the competition, presented by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation. It was Denmark’s first trip to the finals.
The winning team, advised by social studies teacher Zack Olson, was comprised of Henry Pahlow (captain), Lydia Flanigan, Ben Lindsley, Aiden Nelsen, Collin Trepanier and Cherry Weis. Each will be awarded a $2,000 scholarships to a Wisconsin college or university of their choice.
They were among those who advanced from from a field of more than 180 students who competed during the regional Games, which were held virtually last month.
West Bend East & West High Schools, who were state champions in 2023, took second place. The team, advised by social studies teacher Mark Drake, included Grace Mueller (captain), Faith Mueller, Owen Damkot and Daniel Zolp.
New London High School took third place. The two-person team, advised by social studies teacher Patrick Lawton, included Wyatt Adamovich and Jack Kedinger.
In addition to vying for points by answering questions about government, citizenship and the democratic process, students heard from Gov. Tony Evers, Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman, Attorney General Josh Kaul, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly, WNA President Kris O’Leary, WNA Foundation President Scott Peterson and WNA Foundation Board Member Eve Galanter
“I hope that through this experience you’ve gained critical knowledge about what it means to be civically engaged, the important impact you have as a leader in your community, and how important it is to pay close attention to the world arround us,” Evers said.
Watch the Civics Games
The competition, including all of the speakers’ comments, can be viewed on WisconsinEye:
The Wisconsin Civics Games was launched in 2018 by the WNA Foundation in an effort to fuel civic participation after data revealed municipalities across the state were having trouble filling local elected positions in their communities. Since then, the competition has continued to grow.
Friday’s competition was judged by Rep. Lisa Subeck, D-Madison; Hannah Dugan, Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge; Taylor Hooker, director of outreach and high school partnerhsips for the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities; Nicole Aimone, publisher and editor-in-chief of the (Spring Green) Valley Sentinel; and Taylor Scott, publisher and managing editor of the (Spring Green) Valley Sentinel. Volunteers included Joy Cardin, Melanie Ramey and Maura Mullen.
The Wisconsin Civics Games scholarships are funded in part by the generous support of the University of Wisconsin System. Additional support for the Games has been provided by the Evjue Foundation, Wisconsin Counties Association, League of Wisconsin Municipalities, MultiMedia Channels, Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, WisconsinEye, Wisconsin Senate Scholars Program, Wisconsin News Tracker and Godfrey & Kahn. Individuals interested in contributing can do so at bit.ly/wiscivics.
Other teams that competed during Friday’s state finals included:
Beloit Turner High School #1
Adviser: Riley Clark
Team Members: Thomas Peters (captain), Rylan Rasmussen, Abigail Tahtinen, Kathryn Wolf
Beloit Turner High School #2
Adviser: Riley Clark
Team Members: Patrick Daehler, Sam Erickson, Devlyn Halverson (captain), Ethan Scherck
Cedarburg High School
Adviser: Kathleen Korbas
Team Members: Keaton Blake, Katelyn Davis (captain), Ishan Patil, Allison Springer
Grafton High School
Adviser: Shannon Measner
Team Members: Colin Garvey, Nathan Mitchell, Trevor Nauta (captain)
Green Bay Preble High School
Adviser: Ty Pelot
Team Members: Parker Bosse, Lonell Gage, Nora Oleniczak (captain), Carlee Perry
Lomira High School
Adviser: Stacey Clark
Team Members: Preston Boyd, Marshall Hanke, Grant Luedtke (captain), Weston Poth, Myles Verhunce
Mineral Point High School
Adviser: Terry Cool
Team Members: Bobby Allbright, Julianna Cool, Charlie DaVee, Matthew Goninen (captain)
Platteville High School
Adviser: Garrett Jones
Team Members: Caden Charles (captain), Guthrie Cline, Benedict Drefcinski, Owen Griffin, Ben Kuhls, Ethan Roepsch
Seymour Community High School
Adviser: Chelsey Schaumberg
Team Members: Isabella Burton (captain), Sam Kastning, Sophia Schuh, Alexandra Tingo
Slinger High School
Adviser: Melissa Stolaski
Team Members: Coleman Brunet (captain), Jessica Duerst, Mira Growel, Mackenzie Gyson, Sophia Reno
Waunakee High School #1
Adviser: Corina Rogers
Team Members: Isak Drangstveit (captain), Alyssa Franks, Ish Patel, Josh Rifelj
Waunakee High School #2
Adviser: Corina Rogers
Team Members: Skyler Cole (captain), Portia Grade, Noah Sell
Waupaca High School
Adviser: Cory Nagel
Team Members: Alyssa Durrant (captain), Alton Ross, Lukas Soto, Miles Wenberg
West Bend High School #2
Adviser: Mark Drake
Team Members: Charlie Benning, Mason Ellis, Owen Schloemer, Aidan Schmidt, Mason Warczak (captain)
Xavier High School
Adviser: Monica Jones
Team Members: Lindsey Baehler (captain), May Shimek, JJ Vander Loop, Cody Wertman
