Past Events and Winners
Explore highlights from past competitions. Each year, students from across the state come together to demonstrate their knowledge, teamwork, and commitment to civic engagement—culminating in an inspiring State Finals at the Wisconsin State Capitol. Meet past champions, relive memorable moments, and see how these students have brought learning to life through competition.
*2020 and 2021 games were not held due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2026 Civic Games
Wauwatosa West High School
Wauwatosa West High School team 2 was the winning team of the 2026 Civic Games. Team members include: Elliott Engbring, William Moertl, Benjamin Nowacek, and Madelyn Ullsperger, each earning a $2,000 scholarship to a Wisconsin college or university of their choice. The team is advised by Chad Mateske.
A team from Wauwatosa East High School took second place, and the team from Grafton High School earned third place. Overall, 49 teams from 29 schools across Wisconsin participated in preliminary competitions last month that determined which teams would advance to the state finals.
2025 Civic Games
Platteville High School
Platteville High School was the winning team of the 2025 Civic Games. Team members included: Guthrie Cline, Benedict Drefcinski, Ethan Roepsch and Captain Caden Charles. The team was advised by Garrett Jones
More than 200 students on 49 teams from 27 schools in Wisconsin competed Wednesday, April 9 and Thursday, April 10 in Wisconsin Civics Games preliminary competitions. The Playoffs were held virtually and the top two teams from each division advanced to the state finals. A total of 16 teams competed at the State Finals.
2024 Civic Games
Denmark High School
Denmark High School was the winning team of the 2024 Civic Games. Team members included: Henry Pahlow (captain), Lydia Flanigan, Ben Lindsley, Aiden Nelsen, Collin Trepanier and Cherry Weis. The team was advised by social studies teacher Zack Olson.
Eighteen teams from 15 schools participated in the competition, presented by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation. It was Denmark’s first trip to the finals.
2023 Civic Games
West Bend East & West High Schools
The winning team from West Bend East and West High Schools included Owen Damkot (captain), Danny Zolp, Abby Lockrem and Myah Latour. The team was advised by social studies teacher Mark Drake.
They were among 62 students from 13 schools across the state who participated in the competition Friday at the state Capitol in Madison, after advancing from a field of 166 during regional contests held virtually.
2022 Civic Games
Indian Trail High School and Academy
Indian Trail High School and Academy was the winning team of the 2022 Civic Games. Team members included: Joshua Cao and Alexandra Maldonado. The team was advised by social studies teacher Marla Day. (Cao was also awarded first place in the 2021 Wisconsin Civics Games Editorial Writing Contest.)
Forty-five students from 12 schools participated in the state finals after advancing from regional contests held virtually last month. More than 150 students competed in the regionals.
2019 Civic Games
Platteville High School
Platteville High School was the winning team of the inaugural 2019 Civic Games. Team members included: Spencer Olds, Alex Sonsalla, Jacob Sherer and Liam Reinicke.
More than 40 students participated in the competition Friday, March 29, at the Wisconsin State Capitol. They represented 11 teams that advanced from February’s regional competitions.