GROVE CITY — Grove City Area School District students, along with about 800 others from Florida, Michigan, Louisiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, West Virginia and Taiwan, competed in the Academic Games League of America National Tournament in Knoxville, Tenn. The students competed in Equations, On-Sets, LinguiSHTIK, Propaganda, Presidents and World Events.
• In the elementary division, Elizabeth Paparone placed ninth of 102 students to earn a top 10 medal in World Events. Jesse Mortimer finished 10th of 178 students to earn a top 10 medal in Propaganda. The team of Jesse, Elizabeth and Erin Sawor and Caroline Coulter finished fourth of 35 teams in Propaganda. Also attending were Julie DiStasi, Lucas Zenobi, Lydia Culp, Courtney Miller and Tanner Glenn.
• In the middle division, Michael Augspurger and Maria Wolinski were on a team that placed second of 43 teams in Presidents. Michael and Claire Coulter were on a team that placed second of 21 teams in World Events. Both teams received silver Thinker trophies. Michael also placed eighth of 106 students to earn a top 10 medal in World Events. He becomes the most decorated Grove City Academic Games team member after also winning a top 10 medal two years ago in Presidents. Also attending from Grove City Middle School were Steven Shi and Chris Karcher.
• In the senior division, Dan Sprando, on his first trip to nationals, was on a team that placed first of 23 teams in Presidents.
Dan received a gold Thinker trophy, the first one ever earned by a Grove City student. Also attending from Grove City High were Justin Vath, attending his fourth and final national event; and Chris Williams, Lauren Hyduchak, Andy DiStasi, Conner Smith and Joe Hoffman.
