An Aldo Leopold Intermediate School student has been named the youth category winner of the third annual Wapsie Writing Contest.
Sixth-grader Keelan Savoie’s winning entry, “Point Nemo Extended,” centers on an encounter with a Kraken-like sea creature in Earth’s most remote location.
As its title suggests, Savoie’s entry is an extension of “Point Nemo,” a story he wrote earlier this year for the Burlington Community School District’s Scary Story Writing Contest for which he received honorable mention.
“I chose this story for the 2025 (Wapsie Writing Contest) because it acts like a part 2 of a previous story I made for a Halloween competition for my school,” Savoie said. “I decided it needed some more detail and background.”
Savoie added that he named some of his characters after friends and that he chose to write it in a log format after reading classmate Benat Struve’s story, “Journals from the Deep.”
“The log entries were an idea I got from the first place winner of the Halloween contest,” Savoie said.
Savoie was among seven sixth-graders at Aldo who entered the contest. Kahri Plein, an extending learning teacher at ALIS, said the Wapsie Writing Contest is especially valuable for aspiring writers due to feedback from judges.
“Feedback is really valuable to growth so it was especially helpful that Ms. Passick provided feedback for each entry,” Plein said. “I’m so proud of all our Aldo authors who submitted work and am thrilled that Keelan was recognized for his creative story that combined his writing skills with his love of marine biology.”
The Wapsi Writing Contest was founded in 2023 by award-winning historical crime novelist Betty Brandt Passick of Fairbank, Iowa, with the goal of encouraging creative writing and providing opportunities to share it.
The contest is divided into three categories: Adults (19 and older), youth (12-18 years) and children (11 years and younger). Contestants were able to submit a never-before-published short story or poem about a subject matter of their choosing.
All poems and short stories submitted were judged by a panel of published authors, poets, creative writing teachers and avid book readers based on writing, mechanics/organization, and clarity/storytelling. Judges also looked for creativity, originality, and intensity of emotion.
You can read Savoie’s story below.
Point Nemo Extended
5 months later… “Hello, this is the Point Nemo research division log entry #34. After the apparent events from 5 months ago, coming from Point Nemo, we have been trying to figure out what could’ve happened. Our team thinks it’s all a joke, but to think we are still doing this now. Apparently an 18 year old boy named Xavier, who was 17 during the event, was the last and only survivor. Xavier states that he saw some giant mythical creature, like those old stories of the Kraken. Xavier describes the creature as a giant lizard tyrant, similar to the Tyrannosaurus Rex. During the interview at his home he said it seemed to be around 56ft long. We asked him what the characteristics of this beast looked like. He said a scaly upper half and an elongated nasal cavity. He said the creature had some-sort of flippers? We tried to clarify but it seemed like he had no idea,” End of log.
“This is the Point Nemo research division log entry #35. We have come up with two possible solutions for this description. The first one is the Orcinus Orca, otherwise known as an Orca or Killer Whale. These creatures are technically dolphins and are known to be highly aggressive towards humans and will not hesitate to attack, and the “flippers” that Xavier was talking about could be the seal-like fins on the sides. Though Xavier never said anything about dorsal fins, Plus adult orca only grow to be about 27ft, and travel in packs, there was only one creature in the incident. That size is not enough to take out that ship, and Xavier described it to be more than 2x the size of a fully grown Orcinus Orca.” End of log.
“This is the Point Nemo research division log entry #36. Our second theory might be the most reasonable facts wise, but it wouldn’t make any sense. The next creature is Mosasaurus Hoffmanni, otherwise known as the Mosasaurus, meaning “Meuse Lizard” named after the European River where their fossils were discovered. Now even though this theory is the most logical because of their size almost exactly matching Xavier’s descriptions plus the elongated nose, this species could take out a ship due to their size and flexibility. Mosasaur are extinct, while Orca are extant. Though if there were anything capable of sinking this ship and taking out any crew members in an instant, it could be possible. We do need further research before we go out looking for it.” End of log.
Interview with Xavier Dungey, only apparent survivor… “Could you tell us some characteristics of the apparent “Monster” that you saw that night?”
“It was way too dark to see anything, almost completely pitch black out there… but that Thing was so big and close to me it was almost completely clear.”
“Well… tell us then!”
“Who is “us”, it’s just you?”
“I’m recording your every-word to report back to the facility.”
“Oh ok then, it looked like a massive lizard/Aquatic monstrosity. It had some weird seal-like flippers? But definitely not similar to a shark. It had a tail similar to a dinosaur, and an elongated snout.”
“Did you know anyone on the ship?”
“Well… I kind of knew the head oceanographer, I think his name was Beaw? Or Baue? I’m not really sure it’s been a while…”
“Interesting, how did this creature act? Like behavior wise?”
“Well it seemed very aggressive of course. It basically attacked on sight, even the tiny mackerel that we were trying to use to record and map.”
“Very good! Thank you for your time.” End of recording.
It was 5 AM in the morning when 3 people broke into Xavier’s home. Xavier woke up before they got to him and grabbed a crowbar he had next to his bed for defense. “Hey, Xavier!” One of the men yelled from down the hall.
“What do you want from ME?”
“We work for the Point Nemo research division.” “Just put down the weapon and come out we are unarmed, DO NOT harm us please.”
“Alright, fine!” Xavier slowly stepped out of the room, poking his head out but still holding the crowbar tightly. “Alright guys what do you want? I’m tired. And did y’all really have to break in?”
“It was necessary, anyway, come to the living room.”
“Is this another interview?” Xavier asked.
“Nope, just come on.” Xavier put down his crowbar and followed the three men. Xavier sat down in front of the guys. “Xavier, what you have said made us very curious… We are going out to look for this creature that you speak of, and we need you to come with us.” Xavier took a couple seconds to process…
“Does this mean I can leave my house!?”
“Well, yes and no. Get dressed, bring essentials, and tell us when you’re ready and we will drive you to the dock. We already have everything ready.”
Xavier and the randoms arrived at the dock at 6:52 AM. This time, the crew was built up of biologists and paleontologists. “Why do I need to come?” Xavier asked. No answer. “Come on, hop on the ship we don’t have time to look around.” Xavier got on the ship and set off. Where too? Point Nemo.
Many, MANY hours have passed, like 17? Lost track… Xavier’s trauma slowly began to come back, as he saw the waves around him… with no signs of land. As the sky grew darker, people on the ship started preparing. They had multiple different types of radars. The time was now 8:49 PM, the sun had set and it was dark. You couldn’t see 9ft out into the ocean if you looked out the side. There were many people documenting in journals and recordings. All of the sudden something BIG showed up on the radar. Xavier’s heart started to race. It came closer and CLOSER. Then, it came out of the darkness. IT WAS… A fishing boat… with four men fishing. “Heya lads!” one of the old guys said. One of the people on the researcher’s boat started speaking, “What are you guys doing out here at this time?”
“Oh, y’know… just trying to catch some fishes!” The fishing boat sailed away. Xavier was slightly relieved, and they continued.
As time went on people on the ship started to think Xavier’s story was all a hoax, and that he was lying. “Why should we believe this story of yours?” One of the crew members asked Xavier. “Well you guys came out here didn’t you? You guys are the ones who set up all of this. I never wanted to come back out here.” The guy walked away with an annoyed expression on his face.
The time was now 10:00 PM. The radar started beeping uncontrollably. Something big was coming towards them. We launched a mini-boat out into the ocean connected to a rope. The thing on the radar was moving at incredible speeds and making turns faster than any boat is capable of. It charged towards the mini-boat that was filled with fish. Then a MASSIVE head JUMPED out of the water and took the ENTIRE mini-boat with it. It was indeed… a Mosasaurus Hoffmanni. But how is this possible?
Everyone’s eyes widened. A massive 58 ft. long Mosasaur… “How… aren’t these BEASTS supposed to be extinct!?” Xavier’s eyes lowered. He had a bored expression on his face. “So what do we do now, did you guys have any plans at all?” Xavier asked. “SHOOT IT!!!” Xavier knew that this entire ship was done for… The Mosasaur jumped out of the water and landed on the ship. Of course it could not hold it and collapsed. The people who did not drown were “Attempting” to shoot it, which would have 0% effect. Xavier of course knew what to do. He grabbed some rope and a life buoy. He jumped and floated away. Praying that it didn’t notice him. Two other men saw him and did the same, and they watched the boat behind them submerge into the waters.
After days of starvation and dehydration they made it to land. That ship was never seen again, nothing “scientific” ever happened there. Just a bunch of random people thinking they were smart enough to discover a prehistoric beast. Xavier and the two men decided not to tell the public about this incident. Though they did recover one journal that washed ashore, from one of the crew members.
This may be my final journal entry. That monster destroyed everything… everything. We are all gonna die. Just a matter of minutes. None of us are really that smart… we are just random people trying to get famous. I will throw this out into the ocean for someone to hopefully find. -NC
None of us knew anyone with the initials NC, but after that… Xavier never step foot anywhere near the ocean again.
THE END. Or is it?
