MECHANIC FALLS – Five teams from Elm Street School participated in the regional competition of Destination Imagination at Gray-New Gloucester High School on March 15.

The winning team, the Backdwigs, moved on to the state competition at the University of Maine in Orono on April 15. Members included Isaac Dean, Bethany Levesque, Gabby Smith, Dylan Porter, Kyle Herrick and Caitlin Hawley. The team was coached by Jack Waite and Ray Levesque.

Their challenge was to create an eight-minute skit in which they had to include a masquerade character, three set pieces, one of which was an optical illusion, that would divulge a secret.

Kindergarten and first grade had two Rising Star Teams. The Cheetah Magic Star Kids were coached by Katie Bryant and Lori Marquis-Boutin. Team members were Randal Aube II, Evan Rivard, Colin Marquis-Boutin, Isaac Ouellette, Ainsley Bryant, Brianna Aube and Hailey Johnson.

The Team Wild Cats was coached by Amanda Comeau. Team members were Cole Bryant, Lily Waite, Melina Herrick, Rachel Kuklinski, Nathan Barker, Andrew Wilson and Christina Haskell.

The Code Crackers were coached by Annie Plummer. The team members were Adrianna Stone, Journee Levasseur, Brianna Linscott, Zoe Thomas, Susan Van Arsdale and Kris Lugner.

Becky Reed-Lugner coached the Fourse. Team members were Sean Friree, Nick Lugner, Jordan May, Jayla Monaghan, Andrew Thurlow, Jasmine Masterson and Brandie Bowie.

The five teams at Elm Street School were coordinated by the Gifted and Talented Education teacher, Karen Downing, who was also an appraiser. Dan Connell, West Paris, officiated as an appraiser at both the regional and state competitions.