These Crestline fifth graders were honorable mention winners in their school’s 2012 Wet ‘N Wild competition last week. Pictured, from left, are Shanna Alexander, Tyde Ward, Jake Waddell, Amber Davis and Marley Carpenter. | Clif Knight

A duck, a beaver and a bobcat—all wild critters native to the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge—enabled their creators to capture top honors in a Wet ‘N Wild competition at Crestline Elementary School last week.

All three critters and their habitats were created mostly from natural materials found outdoors.

Lillie Smith won first place with her bobcat; Daniel Fredericks’ beaver was judged second best; and Jennifer McCain’s duck came in third.

Five other critters won honorable mention.. They were entered by Jake Waddell, Amber Davis, Shanna Alexander, Marley Carpenter and Tyde Ward.

These three exhibits claimed first, second and third place honors in the 2012 Crestline Elementary School Wet ‘N Wild competition last week. Shown with their exhibits are Lillie Smith, right, first place and Daniel Fredericks, second place. Third place winner Jennifer McCain is not pictured. | Clif Knight

The exhibits of all winners were entered in a countywide competition at the Wheeler National Wildlife Center on Oct. 29. Winning exhibits from that competition will be displayed at the Wet “N” Wild Festival in Decatur later this week.

“This is a project we do each year in cooperation with the Wildlife Refuge,” said fifth grade science teacher Stacy Steenson. “We had 94 entries to judge and that was not an easy task. I am always amazed at the creative work the student put into their projects.”