Civics Games Past Winners | Wisconsin Newspaper Association

2020 and 2021 games were not held due to COVID-19 pandemic.

2019 – Platteville High School

Platteville High School students Spencer Olds, Alex Sonsalla, Jacob Sherer and Liam Reinicke are the champions of the inaugural Wisconsin Civics Games, presented by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation.

Platteville High School students (Left to right) Spencer Olds, Jacob Sherer and Alex Sonsalla prepare to answer questions.

More than 40 students participated in the competition Friday, March 29, at the Wisconsin State Capitol. They represented 11 teams that advanced from February’s regional competitions.

2022 – Indian Trail High School and Academy

The winning students were Joshua Cao and Alexandra Maldonado. The team was advised by social studies teacher Marla Day. (Cao was also awarded first place in the 2021 Wisconsin Civics Games Editorial Writing Contest.)

Indian Trail High School and Academy social studies teacher Marla Day takes a photo of students Joshua Cao and Alexandra Maldonado after they won the Wisconsin Civics Games State Championship on Friday, May 13, at the Wisconsin State Capitol. (Photo by Julia Hunter, WNA)

Forty-five students from 12 schools participated in the state finals after advancing from regional contests held virtually last month. More than 150 students competed in the regionals. Because of cancellations prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the first time the Games have been held since the inaugural competition in 2019

2023 – West Bend East & West High Schools

The winning team, advised by social studies teacher Mark Drake, included Owen Damkot (captain), Danny Zolp, Abby Lockrem and Myah Latour.

(Left to right) Arlo L’Allier, Josh Muszynski, Elena Dexheimer and Derek Weissinger of River Falls High School; Myah Latour, Abby Lockrem, Danny Zolp and Owen Damkot of West Bend East & West High Schools; and Josie Tepp, Joshua Moberg, Ryan (Pouriya) Khalili and Alex Jurkuta of Waunakee High School, pose for a photo following the Wisconsin Civics Games state finals on Friday, May 12, 2023, at the state Capitol in Madison. (Photo by Julia Hunter | WNA)

They were among 62 students from 13 schools across the state who participated in the competition Friday at the state Capitol in Madison, after advancing from a field of 166 during regional contests held virtually last month.

2024 – Denmark High School

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.

A team from Denmark High School took first place in the 2024 Wisconsin Civics Games. (Photo by Julia Hunter | WNA)

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.

2025 – Enter your team today

The competition, which aims to promote civics education and encourage Wisconsin high school students to develop an interest in public service, will host play-off competitions virtually on April 9-10, 2025.

The top-performing teams will advance to the state finals on Friday, May 2, at the Wisconsin State Capitol.

Read more about the Civics Games here or register a team.