Karns City School District students brought home awards from a national competition in April. They are, from left, front row, Liam Rodgers, Mason Bell and Grant Rice, and back row, Mallick Metcalfe, Lathan Price, Caleb Sapp, Savanna Prescott, Marli Knox, Katelyn Grazioli and Ashley Maurer. Not pictured was Noah Mourer.

The Karns City School District sent 11 students in April to a national Jeopardy-like academic competition. It was the first time the students made it past the state level.

The students were honored at a Karns City School Board meeting Monday night.

Savanna Prescott, a sixth-grader, said it was an honor to be a part of the first team to compete nationally at the Academic Games Leagues of America.

“It was really fun, but it was hard at the same time,” Savanna said. “It was a lot of pressure, but it was cool to be the first and have that experience that no one else has at school.”

The organization holds annual competitions during which students from around the country test their academic knowledge in local mental bouts.

Katelyn Grazioli, a 10th-grader, said the competition was nerve wracking at times, but hard work and long study hours helped Karns City produce four medaling teams.

Two teams placed first and third in the current events category, and two teams placed third and fifth in the presidents category.

Katelyn was part of the team that took first in current events.

“It was kinda crazy because you see how smart the kids are there,” she said. “It was cool that we were able to take home some hardware in our first year.”

At nationals, students from fifth through 10th grades competed academically in different categories that included presidents, current events, propaganda and mathematical equations.

“These kiddos were very excited, and they worked inside and outside the classroom,” said Jennifer Jamison, the school's special education director. “They worked hard to get to that level.”

According to the organization's rules, students can play individually or compete in teams of five through their school district. They compete in one of four divisions based on their grade level: elementary, sixth grade and below; middle, eighth grade and below; junior, 10th grade and below; and senior, 12th grade and below.

Prescott said the team's success will draw additional interest from fellow capable students.

“I think there's going to be a lot more kids going to nationals next year,” she said.

The games have become a popular annual event in the district. School psychologists identify students who are gifted, and they are then passed along to Terry MacKrell, the school's coordinator for the gifted education program. MacKrell helps the students identify their areas of interest and then tailors their education to that topic.

MacKrell accompanied the students this year to Florida from April 25 to 29.

“They had fun,” MacKrell said. “No one got upset, pressure-wise. They worked really well.”

MacKrell said that the extracurricular activity helps students with their schooling.

“It allows the kids a different avenue for them to be challenged in,” MacKrell said. “It's a sport for the brain.”

Katelyn said the teams were able to stay competitive, even in their first year, because their coaches challenged them.

“We studied a lot for this,” she said. “Mr. MacKrell has helped us a lot. He pushed us to do better at these games.”

Eagle staff writer Nathan Bottiger contributed to this report.