By Angel Perkins News-Mirror Editor
Triton Elementary School once again hosted the Northern Indiana Destination ImagiNation Regional Tournament with hundreds of participants, coaches, appraisers (judges) and parents in attendance. The day began at 9 a.m. but for the team members and coaches, their work began weeks and even months before.    
Teams were to meet one of five challenges: DIrect Flight, CSI DI, Round About Courage, Switching TraDItions and Card-DI-ology. Triton had four teams involved in the competitions and each team had eight minutes to complete a “challenge” or directed task.

The Elementary team was managed by Lori Gabhart and members were Victoria Grubbs, Dathan Schoolman, Della Schoolman, D.J. Schoolman, Raney Sinkey and Erin Stolte. Their challenge was Card-DI-ology, to design, build and test a structure made completely with playing cards.
They were to create an architectural drawing of the structure and had to include a story about the impact or effect any kind of card or cards had on a character in their skit. Team member Victoria Grubbs said, “We made a card sculpture that was seven-and-a-half inches long.”
She said that their associated story was about a building with mystical portals that “turned” one member (Della Schoolman) into a dog. Grubbs explained that it was her first year in DI and that she was enjoying it.
“It was fun,” she said. “We had a couple problems. Our sculpture broke into pieces and we started with seven people but two quit.”    
An elder Triton Elementary team, managed by Jennifer Mosier had members Darren Harrell, Sierra Harrell, Taylor Hatfield, Bryson Mosier, Jayden Mosier, Dayna Schoolman and Courtney Zentz. Their challenge was also Card-DI-ology.            The Triton Jr. Sr. High School junior team was managed by Cathy Strycker and included members Josh Burkholder, Tommy DeVros, Tom Eiser, Chrissi Schaetzle, Debbie Schoolman, Jennifer Strycker and Jamie Yungandreas. Their challenge was CSI-DI.
They were to develop and present and original story about an investigation of a case and evidence and resolution of the case. They had to include a “colorful character,” a “shady character” and use innovative methods to produce a theatrical CSI effect by using color, shadow and/or illumination.
Students also had to include a gadget that used one or more properties of visual light to reveal or analyze one piece of physical evidence involved in the skit. After their challenge Chrissi Schaetzle shared some of what she experienced.
“Our challenge was (titled) “At sixes and sevens,” she said. “It means chaos or pandemonium. We had to come up with technical lighting effects and make it a mystery.”
Tommy DeVros also a two-year DI member, said he thought their presentation “went pretty smooth” even though they had forgotten some of their planned dialogue. “We really, really ad-libbed,” explained Schaetzle with a smile.
“It was all right though,”said DeVros. “We work better under pressure.”    The last Triton group, this one of high school, upper-classmen, was managed by Lisa Eiser who has managed or coached Triton teams for eight years.
Team members were Logan Chapman, Cole Eiser, Nick Harrell, Dane Sahlhoff, Daniel Schoolman, Chris Strycker and Zach Wampler. Their challenge was DIrect Flight.         Competitors were to design and build aircraft to fly to several different landing zones. One of the aircraft was to be made from a sheet of paper at the start of their presentation.
They could have up to three elevators to raise and release the aircraft to fly to the specific spots as well as to perform stunts in air. Teams earned points by successfully completing this as well as flight tasks from randomly-selected “Test Flight” prompt cards.
The Triton team met with some unexpected difficulties in carrying out the challenge as five of the seven members couldn’t make it to the competition due to illness or prior obligations. “We pre-recorded the script (of which the others were to carry out) and we can handle the launch part,” said Nick Harrell confidently.
Using an air pump, pieces of wood, plastic piping and other odds and ends, the group had constructed a contraption that would launch their pop bottle and camera film case aircraft. “We tied this (a length of rope) to the handle (made of hosing) to adjust the height,” explained Zach Wampler.
“Their entire project only cost $24.75,” said manager Lisa Eiser. “They can use up to $175 per project.”
Fifteen school districts were involved and performed throughout the day. They were: Ben Franklin, Bishop Dwenger, Central Noble, Churubusko, Discovery MS, Eastern Fairfield, Frontier, Lincoln JHS, Sharp Creek, St.John the Baptist New Haven, St. Joseph Central, St. Jude, Triton and Weisser Park.
There were 46 appraisers using a points system to determine winners and their placements. Bruce Newell of Fishers, Ind. has been appraising DI tournaments for four years and has been involved in DI since his son and daughter became involved. His daughter Elizabeth, now 18 and a student at DePauw University, was also present for the competition held March 10 as an appraiser.
They were judging the DIrect Flight challenges and could be identified as such, as they proved their personal whimsy and creativity with their elaborate, colorful hats. Newell wore a pink, plush, pig hat with flapping wings to be in conjunction to the theme and to represent the adage, “when pigs fly.”
His daughter sported a styrofoam airplane hat complete with clouds atop her head.    “It’s different each year,” he said of the variety of challenges. “But the problems are all just as complicated and their solutions are also as detailed.
Michelle Ogrink of Hammond was another appraiser involved with DIrect Flight. While she didn’t wear a silly hat, she did admit to enjoying the program that she was in for four years during high school at Ben Franklin.
“I’ve been doing this (appraising) for three years,” she said. “I’m always amazed at what the kids can do. ”The top three winners of each category are as follows:
CSI-DI
Elementary Level — St. Jude, Frontier Falcons, St. Joseph Central Middle Level- Eastern HS, Discovery MS, Sharp Creek Elementary     
Secondary Level — Triton Jr.Sr. HS junior team, Bishop Dwenger
Card-DI-ology
Elementary Level — St. John the Baptist New Haven, St. Joseph Central, Triton Elementary
Middle Level — St. John the Baptist New Haven, Lincoln Jr. HS, Triton Elementary     
DIrect Flight
Elementary Level — St. John the Baptist New Haven, St. Joseph Central, Eastern Elementary
Middle Level — Churubusco schools Round
About Courage
Elementary Level — Eastern Elementary, Sharp Creek Elementary, St. Joseph Central     Middle Level — Ben Franklin MS, Churubusco, St. John the Baptist New Haven
Secondary Level — Bishop Dwenger, Churubusco Switching TraDItions
Elementary Level — Fairfield Elementary, Sharp Creek Elementary
Middle Level — Churubusco, Ben Franklin MS
Secondary Level — Central Noble
The first two teams listed above (per category) will go on to compete at the next level.
Destination ImagiNation is the world’s largest creativity and problem solving competition with more than 200,000 participants in all 50 US states, 15 countries and Canadian provinces taking part annually.