Middle school students emerge as champions in inaugural Sewickley Public Library tournament

James Dervan swiftly navigated his way around the Sewickley Public Library reference desk, careful not to bump into the wooden tables.

He glided passed the teen computers and some fiction and nonfiction classics.

The Sewickley sixth-grader was not looking for his favorite book or a place to do homework — he was leading his team to victory in a live-action Mario Kart race.

James and 15 other sixth through eighth graders from various communities participated in the library’s inaugural Tournament of Giant Games on March 8.

Games included Mario Kart, live action Hungry Hungry Hippos, Giant Jenga and Giant Bucket Pong.

There were four teams. The red and yellow squads earned gold medals for each winning two out of the four games.

“It was really fun,” said James, 11. “I feel good (about the win).”

His secret to winning Mario Kart was to mimic a creature.

“Crawl like you’re a sleep paralysis demon,” he said.

The yellow team proved to be the hungriest of hippos with their quick work with laundry baskets and some four-wheel non-motorized scooters, also called “gym class scooters.”

The game was modeled after the famous Hasbro table top game involving four hippos stretching out to gobble up marbles.

Why read at a library when you can play hungry hungry hippos?#Sewickley#libraryfun pic.twitter.com/nxR4kBQ9dH

— Mike D. (@MikeJdiVittorio) March 9, 2024

Yellow players also showed patience and cunning as they were able to make the other teams topple the Giant Jenga tower.

“I do a lot of programs at the library, and the tournament of giant games sounded exciting,” said yellow team member Athaliah Ettiene, 11, of Crescent. “I think we were all very positive throughout the tournament.”

Athaliah said she wants to come back next year and defend the championship.

Players also had a pizza party break halfway in the tournament.

Emily Fear, head of the teen department, said they have done a few of the giant games individually in previous years, but not in a tournament setting.

“I think it turned out really well,” she said. “The kids came in really game with a ton of energy. Despite having to do some mid-competition shifts and changes to the some of the gameplay; I think everyone rolled along with it really well and competed admirably and had a lot of fun.

“What more could you ask for, and no injuries. As far as the tournament, I see this as an annual event. Possibly something to really build around.”

More information about library activities is available at sewickleylibrary.org.