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N.D. Jamestown team number one captured the LifeSmarts Competition in Bismarck and will now represent the state at the national competition in Seattle later this year.

The LifeSmarts competition tests students in grades 9-12 about personal finance, health and safety, the environment, technology, and consumer rights and responsibilities. The Attorney General’s Office hosts the annual event that was held this year on February 11.

The State Champion team members from Jamestown are: Kelsey Becker (Captain), Andrew Breidenbach, Jessica Vandal, Dan Reimers and Sierra Schlenker.

The winning team members were excited about going on to the national competition in Seattle. “Coffee capital, here we come,” said Sierra. “We worked hard for this,’ said Kelsey, adding that this year’s competition was more climatic than expected, with the final round extending to two final rounds because of the double-elimination style of the competition.

Jamestown High School team coach Marchel Krieger said the secret to the students’ success was “Practice, practice, practice. We work on old quizzes and we stay aggressive with the buzzer.” Of the team’s prospects at the national competition, Krieger promised, “We’ll give it our best shot.”

An incorrect answer in the penultimate lightning round proved to be one of the best responses of the competition. In answer to the question, “Eighty-seven percent of people feel all children should receive what?” one teen buzzed in with, “a cellphone.” (The correct answer was immunizations.)

The State Champion Jamestown team will compete in the national finals in Seattle later this year.

The other high schools competing in the state competition today were from Central Cass, Flasher and Kindred.