Carroll narrowly wins Jr. Battle of the Books

Bacon Bits Bowl - Carroll team "El Conquistadoras," representing Carroll Junior High/Elementary schools, won the Junior Battle of the Books competition and the coveted Bacon Bits skillet. Team members pictured, l-r, are: Front - Katie Capitanio, Sydney Pencek, Kate Hickner, team captain. Back - Alyssa Ingram, Jackie Tussinger, Hannah Reinke, Lauren Nesbitt, Tavish Matthews, Ashley Bennington. Not pictured: Devin Bell. Photo provided

Carroll and Delphi met for a third year in the Junior Edition Battle of the Books on March 17.

Carroll's team, all eighth graders, calling themselves "El Conquistadoras," narrowly edged out the Delphi "Book Bombers" 59-58 to retain the skillet trophy for a third year.

The competition began on an even note for about the first ten questions. From then on, the lead changed several times with no more than three points separating the teams during the rest of the competition. Delphi led at the halfway point, but Carroll was able to overtake them at the very end of the competition for the victory.

Bacon Bits Bowl - DCMS team Delphi Community Middle School "Book Bombers" won their school competition and came in a close second at the Bacon Bits Bowl, which is the Junior Edition of Battle of the Books. Team members are pictured, l-r: Front - Annie Mose, Stephen Back, Justine Alderman, Stacia Erwin. Back - Loghan Minier, Carrington Wallace, Chelsey Nicholls, Lauren Kayser, Marlee Higgins, Emily Layman. Photo provided

To determine who would compete in the Bacon Bits Bowl, each school held a local competition on March 11. The all-girl eighth-grade team "El Conquistadoras" defeated ten other Carroll teams to earn the right to go up against the Delphi champions.

Delphi Middle School's eighth-grade team, "The Book Bombers," beat out 11 other teams to be their local winner.

Approximately 215 students participate in the program at the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade levels.

Funding and support for the Battle of the Books program comes from both Carroll and Delphi Gifted and Talented Grants, Friends of the Delphi Public Library, Flora Psi Iota Xi, Camden Woman's Literary Club, and the Flora Lions Club.

Each school year, ten books are selected for the students to read between November and March. Questions are written locally by staff members from both Carroll County schools and public libraries.

For more information about the Junior Edition of the program, contact library media specialists Kathi Johnson (Delphi Middle School) and Becky Lain (Carroll Jr.-Sr. High School).