BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Eden Elementary School claimed the championship in the 2026 District 116 Governor’s Cup Academic Competition that wrapped up Sunday at Inez Elementary School.
Eden finished first in the final standings with 52.5 points. Porter Elementary earned second place with 32 points. Inez Elementary followed with 18.5 points, while W.R. Castle Memorial Elementary scored 13 and Warfield Elementary finished with eight.
Eden also took first place in Quick Recall. Team members include Jaxon Maynard, Deacon Muncy, Kinlee Fletcher, Lyric Howell, Charlie Burke, Tyler Allen, Ayden Allen, Brian Burke, Arianna Scott, Eli Greer, Kolten Maynard, Gracie Whitt and Eli Adkins. Porter earned second in Quick Recall, W.R. Castle Memorial placed third, Warfield finished fourth and Inez rounded out the standings in fifth.
Eden continued its strong showing in Future Problem Solving (FPS), capturing another first-place finish. FPS team members are Kinlee Fletcher, Jaslyn Timms, Jaxon Maynard and Graylen Newsome. Inez placed second in FPS, Porter earned third, Warfield finished fourth and W.R. Castle Memorial placed fifth.
In mathematics, Lyric Howell of Eden earned first place with a score of 22. Annabelle Mulkey of W.R. Castle Memorial and Jaxon Maynard of Eden tied for second with scores of 21. Keegan Woods of Porter took fourth with a score of 21, and Caleb Staton of Warfield finished fifth with 20.
Jasmine Shaffer of Warfield topped the science competition with a first-place score of 25. Deacon Muncy of Eden placed second with 24 and Landon Parsley of Inez earned third with 24. Annabelle Mulkey of W.R. Castle Memorial added a fourth-place finish with 21, while Emmett Johnson of Porter placed fifth with 19.
Deacon Muncy of Eden also captured first place in social studies with a score of 29. Emmett Johnson of Porter earned second with 24 and Jaxon Maynard of Eden finished third with 23. Eli Greer of Eden placed fourth with 21 and Chloe Horne of W.R. Castle Memorial earned fifth with 18.
Chloe Chapman of Inez led the language arts results, winning first place with a score of 21. Keegan Woods of Porter placed second with 19. Kinlee Fletcher of Eden finished third with 18. Arianna Scott of Eden and Emmaline Jude of Inez shared fourth place with scores of 18. Meanwhile, Kora Welch of W.R. Castle Memorial placed fifth with 18.
Porter’s Sawyer Goble earned first place in arts and humanities with a score of 21. Emma DeRossett of Porter followed in second with 19. Chloe Chapman of Inez took third with 17 and Matalynh Hayden of W.R. Castle Memorial placed fourth with 17. Chloe Horne of W.R. Castle Memorial rounded out the category in fifth with 15.
Eden dominated the composition event as Kinlee Fletcher earned first place and Jaslyn Timms secured second. Abigail Biddle of Porter placed third, Ariel Marcum of Inez earned fourth and Emily Webber of Porter finished fifth.
Eden Future Problem Solving coach and school counselor Lora Hale praised the team’s work ethic and determination throughout the academic season.
“The academic journey these students are on requires immense dedication, perseverance, and a willingness to push through challenges, and they did exactly that,” Hale said. “They even took time on snow days and days off to study. Their commitment to academics will pay off in so many meaningful ways, shaping their futures and opening doors to endless opportunities. Each and every one of them worked incredibly hard to achieve what they earned today and so much more. I truly love each and every one of you. You mean the world to me and make academics so rewarding and fun.”
The top two teams in both Quick Recall and Future Problem Solving move on to regional competition, along with the top five students in each subject assessment and written composition. The regional will take place later this month at Inez Elementary School.