Orange Middle School Named Battle of the Books State Champions

Going head-to-head with regional winners from across North Carolina, the Orange Middle School Battle of the Books team claimed the top spot in the state-level competition on May 1, 2025, making them State Champions! 

The team of 12 OMS Chargers traveled to the Unity Center in Statesville (contest hosted by Iredell-Statesville Schools) and earned a perfect score in four out of eight rounds, finishing the competition with 155 overall points. 

Preparing for Battle of the Books is a year-long process that begins before the school year even starts. Many Charger students use the summer to familiarize themselves with some or all of the 20 books chosen each year by the NC School Library Media Association (NCSLMA).

“They’ve worked so hard for almost an entire year,” Hali Pyles, OMS Librarian said. “Some of my students finished reading all 20 books before school began and read them over and over throughout the year.”

To join the MBoB (Middle School Battle of the Books) team at Orange Middle School, students go through tryouts that include a memory test on key events and quotes from all 20 books. Out of nearly 50 students who try out each year, the 12 highest scorers go on to represent their school. 

With the help of Pyles and Assistant Coach Heather Leonard, the team gears up to compete in district, regional, and state-level competitions. This marks the second year in a row that OMS has taken the regional crown and headed to the state-level competition. 

The support students provide each other makes this squad unique, said Pyles: “What I love about our Battle of the Books team is that they’re all friends. They support and encourage each other and become friends inside and outside of club time. This is what makes us the team to beat: hard work, dedication, and kindness.”

Next year, students transitioning to high school look forward to continuing their success by forming Battle of the Books teams at both Cedar Ridge and Orange High Schools.

Not long after winning the state MBoB championship, Orange Middle School also hosted a visit by Senator Graig Meyer to speak with students and present the team with certificates and congratulations. 

Engaging in conversation with the champs, Senator Meyer asked about preparing for Battle of the Books. He happily received tips for future competitors, along with team members’ recommendations of their favorite novels from the reading list. 

Congratulations to: Magnolia Bolduc, Jack Crandell, Malcolm James, Maddie Keatts, Leo Konneker, Alex Lemmon, Lily Mallia, Marla M., Rosalia Panek, Kinley Sayed, Henry Swanson, Katelyn Terrell, and Simon Thurrell for this huge accomplishment!