Park District announces results of Jan. 25-28 Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition

High School Division first-place winner and Artists’ Choice Award winner “There’s No Pizza Like Snow Pizza,” by Rockford East High School. (Photo courtesy of Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition)

First place and People’s Choice Award winner “Pocahontas,” sculpted by Vikings in Black: Captain Svenhärd Skupien, Bjorn Skupien, and Thorfinn Skupie. (Photo courtesy of the Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition)

Online Staff Report

The Vikings in Black team of Svenhard Skupien, Bjorn Skupien and Thorfinn Skupien won the 26th Annual Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition with their sculpture of “Pocahontas.”

The winning team was honored at the competition’s awards ceremony Saturday, Jan. 28, at Sinnissippi Park in Rockford. Eight state teams, 15 high school teams and one exhibition team (last year’s winning team) participated in the Jan. 25-28 event.

Other awards included the following:

• Second Place — Mayor’s Award (tie): “7, 8, 9…”, Sculpted by The Band of Misfit Boys team composed of Scott Triplett, Dan Berry and Keith Pliml.

• Third Place — Rockford Park District Award (tie): “Bridge Over Trolled Waters,” sculpted by The Slacktastic 4 team, composed of Andy Skupien, Nathaniel Branch and Sable Matula.

• People’s Choice Award: “Pocahontas,” sculpted by Vikings in Black team, Sven, Bjorn and Thorfinn Skupien.

• Committee’s Choice Award — Patricia “Pat” Hayes Parks Award: “Elusive,” sculpted by Tat2 Crue team, composed of Nikki Schultz, Tiffani McCann and Andrew Wirth.

High School Division awards were as follow:

High Scool Division second-place winner and People’s Choice Award winner “Elephantine Love,” by Keith Country Day School. (Photo courtesy of Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition)

• First Place — “There’s No Pizza Like Snow Pizza,” sculpted by Rockford East High School, composed of Luzanna Kowalczyk, Aurora Macek, Gavin Barlow and Shanton Staten. Adviser: John DeRango.

• Second Place — “Elephantine Love,” sculpted by Keith Country Day School, composed of Jeannie Maeng, Angela Martinez, Philip Pernacciaro and Ke Tang. Adviser: Lori Walsh.

• Third Place — “1987-2011,” sculpted by Pecatonica High School, composed of Daniel Byl, Seala Hite, Anne Johns and Eric Morgensen. Adviser: Eric Donaldson.

• Linda K. White Spirit Award — “1987-2011,” sculpted by Pecatonica High School, composed of Daniel Byl, Seala Hite, Anne Johns and Eric Morgensen. Adviser: Eric Donaldson.

· Committee’s Choice Award — “Well That’s Sno’ Good,” sculpted by Belvidere North High School, composed of Allyce Angel, Spencer Gedwill, Ryan Helgerson and Noelle Nespor. Adviser: Edith Obenchain.

· Artists’ Choice Award — “There’s No Pizza Like Snow Pizza,” sculpted by Rockford East High School, composed of Luzanna Kowalczyk, Aurora Macek, Gavin Barlow and Shanton Staten. Adviser: John DeRango.

· People’s Choice Award — “Elephantine Love,” sculpted by Keith Country Day School, composed of Jeannie Maeng, Angela Martinez, Philip Pernacciaro and Ke Tang. Adviser: Lori Walsh

The three-member state teams work 3 1/2 days on a 5-ton, 6-foot-by-6-foot-by-10-foot block of snow to create frozen works of art; the four-member high school teams work 2 1/2 days on a 4-foot-by-4-foot-by-6-foot block of snow. Sculptors cannot use power tools or props (other than the snow) to hold up the pieces, nor may colorants be added.

The Illinois Snow Sculpting competition is hosted by the Rockford Park District.

For more about this event, visit www.snowsculpting.org, or call the Rockford Park District at (815) 987-8800. More pictures from the competition can be viewed at http://www.facebook.com/ilsnowsculpting.