WrestleMania Reading Challenge World Finals
ATLANTA – The WWE Universe and WWE Superstars cheered on teens and tweens from the United States and Canada at the sixth annual WrestleMania Reading Challenge World Finals, where three lucky winners earned ringside seats to WrestleMania XXVII! (PHOTOS)
Big Show, Kofi Kingston and Eve – who were some of this year’s WrestleMania Reading Challenge spokespeople – quizzed the 20 regional winners on John Green’s Paper Towns, and Joan Bauer’s Stand Tall and Peeled. Hornswoggle and Bauer judged the competition, while WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Hart hosted at Fulton Public Library’s main branch during WrestleMania Week.
“These days technology is just so prevalent,” Kingston told the finalists. “You could be at home watching TV or on your iPods or iPads or laptops, but you guys chose to read and read your way to WrestleMania. So I am very proud of each and every one of you for being here and congratulations.”
After a series of 20 trivia questions, the regional finalists in each grade category who correctly answered the most questions about his or her group’s respective book were named World Champions and won ringside seats to WrestleMania XXVII!
Although a mischievous Hornswoggle attempted to run off with a trophy after writing down the correct answer to a question in the Grades 7-8 group, he was unceremoniously disqualified. After three rounds of tough competition – which even came down to the final answer in the Grades 9-12 group – this year’s champions were crowned:
- Grades 5-6: Eric Jose of Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
- Grades 7-8: Marinna Vela of Zillah, Wa.
- Grades 9-12: Brandy Eggleston of Durham, N.C.
In addition to winning ringside seats, Jose, Vela and Eggelston earned $2,000 each for their hometown libraries to put toward teen and tween book collections. After claiming their trophies, the winners and all of the finalists met the Superstar spokespeople and posed for photos.
This year’s competition was a highlight of an eventful WrestleMania Week in Atlanta. Eve was delighted to be a spokesperson for the WrestleMania Reading Challenge for the first time in 2011.
“Truly, reading is one of the only ways you can continue your education for the rest of your life. No matter where your school is, reading is the way to whatever it is you want to do. It’ll help you accomplish all of your goals,” Eve said.
Each year, WWE and the American Library Association’s Young Adult Library Services Association sponsor the WrestleMania Reading Challenge to encourage “reluctant readers” to read more often. For more information, visit wrestlemaniareadingchallenge.com.
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