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The financially savvy foursome now heads to the Midwest Regional Economics Challenge in Chicago on April 23. They will compete against the best state teams from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee and Wisconsin for a spot in the national competition in May.

Chesaning competed in the David Ricardo Division - named for the famed British political economist - made up of students who have completed a standard economics class. All Chesaning High School students take a semester of economics during their junior year.

Sponsored by the Michigan Council on Economic Education, the annual contest challenges participants to demonstrate their knowledge on a broad array of economic topics, including current events, economic policy, micro, macro and international trade issues, and economics history.

Under the tutelage of longtime economics instructor Joe Bogar, the CHS students were accepted into the competition based on their scores on an online test. Teams from throughout the state spent the morning of March 23 in three rounds of testing at the Novi campus of Walsh College, with the top teams advancing to the quiz bowl finals.

Chesaning defeated a team from the International Academy, a school that has long dominated Michigan Economics Challenge competition. Bogar said he knew his students were facing a daunting challenge, but didn't tell them about their underdog status until after they had won.

"A majority of the teams at state were from the International Academy. They always do very well in this competition. I didn't want to make the kids nervous, so I sort of left that part out," laughed Bogar.

But Gustafson said she and her teammates surmised as much when the teams were introduced before the quiz bowl started.

"There were tons of people there from the academy, so they got lots of applause when they were introduced. It was pretty quiet when our names were called, except for Mr. Bogar and the team from Marquette that was cheering us on," she said. "It made me nervous, and I think that's why we got off to a slow start."

But the new faces from a small town created a lot of buzz as they battled their way back from a 5-1 deficit to win the quiz bowl finals.

"I am really proud of these kids. To win at the state level in our school's first year there was just amazing. They deserve a lot of credit," he said.

The team received medals for the win, and will be honored at the Michigan Council on Economic Education's annual dinner on May 24. They will be given a plaque for the school and will be featured in the MCEE newsletter.

Bogar and the students will board a train bound for Chicago the day before the competition. Their travel and overnight accommodations will be paid by the MCEE.

The regional finalist teams and their teachers will each receive $1,000 U.S. Savings Bonds, and the runner-up teams and teachers will each receive $500 U.S. Savings Bonds. National winners will take home $3,000 savings bonds, with runner-up teams awarded $1,500 savings bonds.

Bogar said this year's team paved the way for future CHS competitors.

"We definitely want to defend our title. We were testing the waters this year, and they proved we've got what it takes. It's something for our school and community to be proud of," he said.

For more information about the Michigan Council on Economic Education, visit www.mceeonline.org.