Quartet of Wayzata 'Destination Imagination' Teams Advance to State Tournament

Four of Wayzata's 17 Destination Imagination teams that competed at the Feb. 23 regional tournament at Maple Grove High School will advance to the State Tournament on April 20 at Champlin Park High School.

The four teams advancing to start are as follows:

The Psychedelic Hippie Kaleidoscopes (freshman and sophomore team from Wayzata High School), took 1st place in Challenge D – Change in Realitee with a raw score of 245.

In this improvisational challenge the team must create a five-minute improvisational skit about life after a dramatic change and how the characters adapt to this change. They must also research different communication techniques and integrate them into their skit. 

Using only white T-shirts and washable markers, team members create all props, sets and costumes within the allotted timeframe. They must also create a slogan from three randomly selected nouns to be integrated into the skit. 

This team's hilarious improv performance revolved around the emotional havoc wrought on a teenage girl's life by a less-than-understanding boyfriend, who refuses to take her to the prom after she cannot create a duct tape dress, due to duct tape becoming unavailable. 

Luckily, the power of poetry, and the girl's inner voice save the day, and everything works out in the end.

Team members include Justin Greenberg, Maia Miller, David Mo, Arman Shah, Abby Trouth and Leighton Zhao. The team is managed by Robb Greenberg and Diane Miller.

SPAM (fifth-grade team from Greenwood) took first place for Challenge A – In the Zone. The challenge involved a team-created story about the dangers faced by vehicles, told from the point of view of the vehicles. The team also designed and built small vehicles that were able to travel specific distances using at least three different power sources for the vehicles.

Despite some technical difficulties the team was able to wow the judges with their skit and Instant Challenge performances.

Team members include Sierra Chen, Charlie Erdahl, E.J. Hanson, Sam Roach, Angela Sun, Anni Wickman and Ian Zukor. The team is managed by Jay Erdahl and Leondra Hanson. 

Funky Chunky Monkeys (fourth-grade team from Greenwood) took second place for Challenge C – In disguise. This is a fine arts challenge in which the team must present a team-created story about a character that uses a disguise. The team must use only non-verbal theatrical techniques to present the story. They also designed and constructed at least two masks that enhanced the story.

Team members include Prina Doshi, Sahana Mangipudi, Emily Mendel, Chiamaka Nwokocha, Misha Shah, Abigail Victor and Christine Yared. The team is managed by Nayla Yared and Sejal Doshi.

DIcecream (fourth and fifth-grade team from Kimberly Lane and Plymouth Creek), took second place in Challenge E – Twist-O-Rama. This is a structural challenge in which the team must build a structure made entirely of glue and materials the team chooses from a list.

The structure is tested by placing weights on it and by subjecting it to torque-inducing impacts. They must also create a prop or costume made of all the materials used in the structure. The team must tell a story about something or someone that causes an unexpected twist or surprising change.

Team members include Sai Chelluri, George Lyu, Lawrence Murali, Sarayu Patturi, Qasim Saleem and Kelly Zeng. The team is managed by Tao Guan and Suping Lyu.

The following three teams received recognition at the tournament for their impressive performances, but will not be advancing to the state tournament. 

Donkey, Inc. (fourth-grade team from Gleason Lake), took third place for Challenge A – In the Zone. This was a highly competitive challenge with a lot of teams competing. In this technical challenge the teams must present a team-created story about the dangers faced by vehicles, told from the point of view of the vehicles. 

They also designed and built small vehicles that were able to travel specific distances using at least three different power sources for the vehicles.

Team members include Adrian Contreras, Andrew Dale, Andrew Day, Charlie Hartman, Jack Lawrance, Cecelia Roth and Justin Silus. The team is managed by Ester Dale and Mike Lawrance.

The Steel Thinkers (fourth-grade team from Gleason Lake), took second place for Challenge B – Wind Visible. This is a science challenge that involves the exploration of wind energy and how it can be used to make kinetic art move. They designed and created kinetic art that moves during their presentation. They also created and presented an original story that features an invisible visitor.

Team members include Julia Basten, Walker Chou, Caroline Hess, Kathryn House, Nate Ice, Charlie Olson and Paul Sausker. The team is managed by Melissa House and Sara Sausker.

The Way of the Wind (third, fourth and fifth grade team from Plymouth Creek), took third place in Challenge B – Wind Visible. This is a science challenge that involves the exploration of wind energy and how it can be used to make kinetic art move. They designed and created kinetic art that moves during their presentation.

They also created and presented an original story that features an invisible visitor.
Team members include Katya Andzelevich, Vaidehi Devulapalli, Anagha Manoj, Sophia Nayyar and Adhvaith Sridhar. The team is managed by Saritha Kumaran and Kavitha Vivekanandan.

There are three more teams who chose the Project Outreach Challenge which doesn’t require them to compete at the regional competition before competing at the state level.

The Project Outreach Challenge – Real to Reel, involves using collaborative problem solving tools to identify and select at least one real community need. Teams must create a movie that documents their service project. They must also evaluate the project and prepare a thorough project review, as well as prepare a live press conference for the tournament. 

The following teams will be competing at State with the Project Outreach Challenge:

• Be the Change (fifth-grade team from Oakwood). Team members include Cole Hartman, Grace Kyllo, Katie Polum, Luke Polum, Nirali Somia, Lindsay Tapper and Jonas Wakosky. The team is managed by Therese Polum and Andrea Hartman.
• The Extreme Team (fifth grade team from Sunset Hill). Team members include Sammi Bergren, Joanna Funk, Andie Hansen, Jenna Marquette, Mara Proxhaska and Ava Schaeffel. The team is managed by Lucy Hansen and Amy Sakayan.
• Swaggamuffins (sixth grade team from West Middle School). Team members include Beau Brinkman, Bella Brinkman, Bennett Brinkman, Olivia Fandrich, Ansley Franco and Wiley Hunt. The team is managed by Kara Fandrich and Cindy Brinkman.