Polk Central Elementary captured top honors last week Thursday in the Polk County Elementary Battle of the Books at Polk County Middle School.

Fourth- and fifth-grade students from all four Polk County elementary schools displayed teamwork skills and poise throughout the six rounds of competition, during which students answered questions about 15 different books.

Polk Central’s team, comprised of Susan Anderson, Mia Bradley, Maggie Gowan, Colt Pitman, Tali Thompson and Kinsley Wilson, and coached by Brooke Benfield and Sherrie Ford, will advance to the Region 8 tournament in Waynesville on April 24.

Judges for the county tournament included Jen Pace Dickenson from Polk County Public Library and Ronette C. Dill, Linley Foster and Rachel Goettery Staton of Polk County Schools.

During the event, students are asked to answer questions about details in the books on the competition reading list. Teams responding with correct title and author receive three points, with a correct title earning two points. A response must be given within 20 seconds.

Also competing in the county tournament were:

• Saluda Elementary — team members Zetta Anderson, Jackson Holder, Aidan Hrynyshyn, Gabby Towne, Ariana Wood and coach Kevin Burnett

• Sunny View Elementary — team members Braelyn Bailey, Banks Barber, Blake Cole, Kynley Lawter, Junie Mae Mitchell, Bo Reid and coach Angela Hall

• Tryon Elementary — Riley Ballentine, Nicholas Batiato, Noah Greve, Cameron Hodges, Brooklynn Lewis, Ramey Martin, Neil Rostick, Madison Sparks-Trumble, Miguel Velasquez-Galindo, Jayden Worley, Wiley Kay and coaches Jamie Kilgore and Stephanie Champion

– Submitted by PolkStudents.com