A record nine teams representing Mercer Island schools have qualified for the Destination Imagination state tournament. The teams qualified by virtue of their performance at the Regional DI Tournament on Feb. 25 in Federal Way. Mercer Island fielded 21 teams this year, which is a record for the district. Participants represented all four elementary schools, the middle school and high school.

DI is an educational program in which student teams solve a variety of open-ended challenges and present their solutions at tournaments. The state tournament will be held April 1 in East Wenatchee.

“We were very proud of all of our teams and the solutions that were performed,” said Mark Headlee, a West Mercer Elementary teacher who manages several of the teams.

“Congratulations to our DI students,” said Superintendent Dr. Gary Plano. “They could not have achieved the placements in the competition without the support of their teachers as team managers and their families.”

Elementary results: Mercer Island schools

First place (both teams qualify for state): “Brainstorm,” Technical Challenge, team manager: Julie Langley and “Who Cares?,” Engineering Challenge, team manager: Mark Headlee

Second place: “Dabbing Taco Cats,” Fine Arts Challenge, team manager: David Baxter (qualified for state) and “Super Mustached Sleepy Sheep,” Scientific Challenge, team manager: David Baxter

Third place: “CAAANEN of Colors,” Fine Arts Challenge, team manager: Carly Harris, “Tech Leprechauns,” Technical Challenge, team manager: Chris Cocklin-Ray, “Club Code,” Scientific Challenge, team manager: Tom Tivnan and “Wolf Pack,” Improv Challenge, team manager: Tom Tivnan

Middle level results: Islander Middle School

First place (both teams qualify for state): “The Conspiracy,” Improv Challenge, team manager: Ellis Reyes and “This Isn’t Legible,” Engineering Challenge, team manager: Mark Headlee

Second place: “Countless Quantum,” Scientific Challenge, team manager: Ellis Reyes (qualified for state), “Seven Sparks,” Technical Challenge, team manager: Mark Headlee (qualified for state) and “Exploding Phoenix Deatheaters,” Improv Challenge, team manager: Ellis Reyes

Fourth place: “Mission Improbable,” Scientific Challenge, team manager: Ellis Reyes

Secondary level results: Mercer Island High School

First place (both teams qualify for state): “Syntacts Error,” Technical Challenge, team manager: Mark Headlee and “We Have A Tie!,” Engineering Challenge, team manager: Mark Headlee

Third place: “Novelty Socks,” Improv Challenge, team manager: Mark Headlee