PHOENIX –Liam Jose Gabe Murrell and La’Quan Deen were crowned national champions in the WrestleMania® Reading Challenge on March 27 sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) a division of the American Library Association and World Wrestling Entertainment® with support from Mattel and DK Publishing.

Murrell lives in Courtice Ontario and represented the Oshawa Public Library. He won the 5-6 competition through his knowledge of the book There’s a Girl in My Hammerlock by Jerry Spinelli. Other regional finalists in the grade 5-6 competition were Andrew Hill La Porte Texas; Melissa Rafet Dennis Phoenix Ariz.; Cindy Leung Edmonton Alberta; Jordan Piekarski Lansing Ill.; Ricki Roberts San Diego Calif.; and Sailesh Srinivas Hicksville N.Y.

Jose a resident of Oshawa Ontario also represented the Oshawa Public Library. successfully defeated the competition in the grade 7-8 competition by answering the most questions correctly about the book Super Stock Rookie also by Weaver. Other regional finalists in the grade 7–8 competition were Katherine Bensburg Mahopac N.Y.; Daniel Davila Avondale Ariz.; Sofia Eury Phoenix Ariz.; Kyle Duane Hoskins Louisville Ky.; Nicholas Luz Edmonton Alberta; and Valarie Winkleman Whiting Ind.

Deen a resident of Homestead Pa. represented the Carnegie Library of Homestead. In the grade 9-12 finals he correctly answered the most questions on the book Saturday Night Dirt by Will Weaver who was on hand as a judge for the competion. Other regional finalists in the grade 9–12 competition were Brian Keith Chest Jr. Phoenix Ariz.; Tiffany Chu Greensboro N.C.; Brian Gastelum San Diego Calif.; Elmaz Mahmutovic Sioux Falls SD; Samantha Luck Sault Ste. Marie Ontario; and Emz Hunsley Edmonton Alberta.
In addition to being named national champions Murrell Jose and Deen won ringside seats to WrestleMania. WrestleMania Reading Challenge spokespeople John Morrison Kofi Kingston and the Bella Twins asked the questions for the events.

Twenty-one regional winners in grades 5–12 from across the United States and Canada came to Phoenix as the guests of World Wrestling Entertainment. The national finals took place at the Phoenix’s Burton Barr Library the day before WrestleMania 26.

More than 50 000 teens and tweens from more than 1 800 libraries participated in this year’s competition. Participants read 10 books magazines or graphic novels over a period of 10 weeks and then created a slogan and bookmark design to promote reading. The regional finalists were chosen by a national judging committee of YALSA members.
More information on the WrestleMania Reading Challenge can be found at www.ala.org/wrestlemania.

For more than 50 years YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books films and audiobooks for teens. For more information about YALSA or for lists of recommended reading viewing and listening go to www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists or contact the YALSA office by phone (800) 545-2433 ext. 4390 or e-mail yalsa@ala.org.

World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE) is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly PG content across all of its platforms including television programming pay-per-view digital media and publishing. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 145 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 500 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford Conn. with offices in New York Los Angeles Chicago London Shanghai Sydney Tokyo and Toronto. Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. can be found at corporate.wwe.com.

Mattel Inc. (NYSE: MAT www.mattel.com) is the worldwide leader in the design manufacture and marketing of toys and family products. The Mattel family is comprised of such best-selling brands as Barbie® the most popular fashion doll ever introduced Hot Wheels® Matchbox® American Girl® Radica® and Tyco® R/C as well as Fisher-Price® brands including Little People® Power Wheels® and a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. Mattel Inc. is recognized as one of 2009’s "100 Best Companies to Work For" by FORTUNE Magazine. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo Calif. Mattel employs approximately 30 000 people in 43 countries and territories and sells products in more than 150 nations. Mattel’s vision is to be the world’s premier toy brands—today and tomorrow.

DK Publishing is world renowned for its distinctive highly visual books that inform inspire and entertain readers of all ages. Publisher of the recent New York Times bestseller Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The Visual Guide among others DK also publishes the award-winning Eyewitness series for children and Eyewitness Travel Guides. DK is a division of Penguin Group (USA).