The fifth-grade girls’ Destination ImagiNation team from West Mercer Elementary School took third place at the state competition at the end of March.

Destination ImaginNation is a creative problem-solving competition that groups of students rehearse and prepare for throughout the school year. Teams prepare for the competition’s group challenge over the course of the year, but have only six minutes to prepare during its instant challenge.

Katherine Seely, Ellie Bernstein, Natalie Godby, Alexa Bauman and Lindsey Reitinger chose to create a live music video retelling the story of the popular song “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” As part of the competition rules, each performance had a grand entrance and two side trips, which the girls created through props, as well as a technical aspect.

It was the second year for Bernstein and Bauman to participate in the program.

“We really liked it last year. We do instant challenges in class,” said Bauman, who said they had so much fun that she and Bernstein are encouraging their younger brothers to give it a try next year.

All Destination ImagiNation teams on Mercer Island are coached by Mark Headlee, a fifth- and fourth-grade teacher at West Mercer.

“It’s really fun. It gets you thinking creatively and working together,” said Bernstein.

Mercer Island’s other teams also placed well at the state competition, with the elementary improv team earning fourth place and the elementary structure team bringing home second place.