The Maryland Destination Imagination (DI) Tournament was held last month at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with 32 teams from Charles County among the 114 competing to make it to the global competition.

Teams of elementary, middle and high school students were tasked to solve one of six problems in the long-term academic event that challenges students to work together to apply creativity, critical thinking skills and unique talents.

Three Charles County teams earned first place titles at the March 16 state competition including Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School’s What The Dog Doin?; the joint team of Milton M. Somers Middle and Mary M. Matula Elementary schools’ Dream Team; and St. Mary’s Bryantown School’s Smarties. These teams will be taking their creativity, complex problem-solving and mental agility skills to the next level as they advance to the Global Finals in Kansas City, Mo., from May 22 to 26.

The Billingsley Elementary School’s Bobcats earned the Spirit of DI Award. The award recognizes teams that act as superior role models in the areas of spirit, teamwork, sportsmanship and volunteerism. Three Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) teams earned the highest Instant Challenge score in their challenge and level — William B. Wade Elementary School’s Dino Nuggies, North Point High School’s We Tried Again and Somers’ Reach for the STARJ.

The following teams also competed and placed at the state tournament.

Pinball Heroes (Technical) Elementary

· T.C. Martin Elementary School, Dot Dot Dot, fourth place.

· Berry Elementary School, Magic Dragons, 10th place (tie).

· Billingsley Elementary School, Dream Team, 10th place, (tie).

· Dr. James Craik Elementary School, Forgen, 11th place.

Middle

· Matthew Henson Middle School, Team Swamp, seventh place.

Blast from the Past (Scientific)

Elementary

· Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School, What The Dog Doin?, first place.

· William B. Wade Elementary School, Dino Nuggies, second place.

· St. Mary’s Bryantown School, Ruby Gems, fifth place.

· Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School, French Fries, 10th place.

Secondary

· North Point High School, Know It Alls, second place.

In Motion (Fine Arts)

Elementary

· Mitchell’s Fate of the Egg, third place.

· T.C. Martin, Hungry Hamsters, sixth place.

· Arthur Middleton Elementary School, Imagination Owls, seventh place.

· St. Mary’s Bryantown, Star Students, eighth place.

Middle

· Milton M. Somers Middle School, Reach for the STARJ, second place.

So Extra (Improv) Elementary

· Craik, Lucky Seven, fourth place.

· Mary B. Neal Elementary School, Improv Providers, sixth place.

· J.P. Ryon Elementary School, Lightning Bolts, seventh place.

Middle

· St. Mary’s Bryantown, Smarties, first place.

· Piccowaxen Middle School, Pink Panthers, fourth place.

· Theodore G. Davis Middle School, Creative Cranium Crabs, seventh place.

Secondary

· North Point, We Tried Again, fourth place.

· Henry E. Lackey High School, Lackey Loops, ninth place.

Going the Distance (Engineering)

Elementary

· St. Mary’s Bryantown, Dragon Wizards, sixth place.

· Billingsley, Bobcats, seventh place.

· Craik, Lightning, ninth place.

· C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School, Molten Lava, 10th place.

Middle

· Somers, Engineering Toad (E.T.), fourth place.

· Matthew Henson Middle School, Hustlin’ Huskies, seventh place.

UnCharted (Service Learning)

Elementary

· Mary H. Matula Elementary School, We Arrr Pirates, fourth place.

· Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School, Creative Beavers, sixth place.

Middle

·· Somers-Matula, Dream Team, first place.