Four awards given to competitors in cardboard boat races at Hannibal Aquatic Center

HANNIBAL, Mo. — From unicorns to angry birds, the vessels in the sixth annual Hannibal Parks and Recreation Department cardboard boat races on the Saturday, June 25 at the Hannibal Aquatic Center were decorated by youngsters eager to battle. Some of the crafts didn’t even last for a few seconds, and some went off course due to the light winds, but everyone had a good time.

Aquatics director Jenna McDonald said the lifeguards and staff made sure all the participants stayed safe, since the cardboard boats didn’t always keep them afloat. Each boat had two passengers ages 6-16. There were several dramatic sinkings, so the staff had a hard time deciding the winners of the Titanic Award.

The winners were: 

• The fastest boat award went to Henry Stroot, 7, and Sydaleigh Cassady, 12, both of Quincy, Ill.;
• The Can’t Believe it’s Cardboard award went to Mary Rodgers, 10, and Emma Jean Rodgers, 8, of Hannibal;
• The best decorated award went to Beckett Meininger, 9, and Jude Meininger, 7, of Hannibal;
• The Titanic award went to Lane Orscheln, 7, and Rhys Orscheln, 6, of Hannibal

Other participating boaters were Jonathan and Katie Matz of Hannibal; Landen and LaShay Blanks of Hickson, Tenn.; Ava and Oliver Sheldon of Wildwood; Sam and William Schisler of New London; Natalie and Jay Arnold of Hannibal; and Joe and Grace Blanks of Hickson, Tenn.