LIFESMARTS TEAM WINS 2ND PLACE AT NATIONAL COMPETITION

     This was the best accomplishment for any team from Illinois since this competition began twelve years ago.

     The team members included; Paul Warkins (captain) of West Chicago; Joann Kaczmarczyk of West Chicago; Ian Letts of Winfield; Doug Sills of Winfield; and Kara Wolfe of Carol Stream. The team was coached by Don Zabelin, business teacher at Community High School District #94.

     The Illinois team began the first day of competition by defeating New York and Wisconsin. Arizona then defeated the Illinois team to move them into the consolation bracket.

     Illinois was very successful the second day of competition by defeating Delaware, Oklahoma, Missouri and Massachusetts to earn a birth in the National Semi-Finals.

     “It felt really amazing to rally four consecutive wins after our first loss to make it back to the championship matches. Because it was a double elimination tournament we really felt the pressure and needed to win all of our remaining matches to stay alive in the tournament.” Doug Sills said after the competition.

     In the National Semi-Final match, the West Chicago team defeated Virginia by a score of 200 – 190. Captain Paul Warkins added “Our semi-final match to get into the championship was really close and we won by just 10 points (or one question). To win, we had to get three questions in a row and it was honestly the most intense match of LifeSmarts any of us have ever been in.”

     The West Chicago team played a rematch with Arizona in the National Finals and ended the tournament in second place with 29 states competing.

     “Making it to the final match against Arizona for the national championship was the highlight of the weekend. We had just beaten Virginia in the most intense match I have ever seen, so we were motivated to win the next one. We may have lost to a deserving team, but second felt good knowing that between the five of us, we did the most we could with our knowledge” Kara Wolfe said.

     “We were very evenly matched with the team from Virginia and our team’s experience really made the difference,” said Coach Don Zabelin. “Our students have all taken the Consumer Education class which provides a large base of knowledge for this competition. This team was also willing to spend a great deal of time practicing and preparing for the event. The students should be extremely proud of their achievement,” Zabelin added.

     LifeSmarts is a program that tests high school students’ knowledge of financial management, technology, the environment, health and safety, and consumer rights. To learn more information about the competition, visit the LifeSmarts web site (www.lifesmarts.org).

Gail Eckl Daniels
Public Relations Facilitator
Community High School District #94
326 Joliet Street West Chicago, IL 60185
gdaniels@d94.org 630/876-6556 Direct Line at CHS #94
630/876-6242 Educational Foundation Line at CHS
630/293-9099 Direct Line at Eckl Daniels Office
gaileckl@aol.com E-Mail at Eckl Daniels Office