By Marie Tolonen for Mesabi Tribune (published 2/22/25)
HIBBING -- The Hibbing Public Library this past Wednesday hosted its inaugural jigsaw puzzle competition pitting five teams against each other.
Each team was given a new, sealed 1,000 piece Potted Posies puzzle to complete, along with official rules for the contest. Complementary pizza and refreshments were provided.
The competition was open to four to six person teams, ages 11 to adult.
Jill Reini, Library Supervisor, said the idea for the competition came as a suggestion from a staff member who had seen a similar event online.
“We’re excited,” Reini said prior to the event.
Jigsaw puzzles have been around since the 1760s and were started by a mapmaker, who cut out pieces of maps on wood as a way to teach children geology, according to an online search. Dissectologist, slang for people who enjoy putting together puzzles, comes from that early origins of jigsaw puzzles to dissect maps, according to information on the website for Blue Kazoo Games.
The most recent resurgence of jigsaw puzzles began in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As teams waited for the signal from contest officials that the contest had begun, they waited while keenly aware the rules state they are not able to open the puzzle box until they get the signal to start.
Kaylee Aikey said she took up puzzling about three years ago, and typically takes about three days to complete one.
Other members of her team acknowledged they weren’t quite as experienced.
“Fly by the seat of our pants—that’s our strategy,” Lathan Wolf, one of Aikey’s team members said.
Sue Thompson and many of her team members said they were there for the fun. Some said it’d been about 20 to 30 years since they worked on a puzzle.
“It’s a good way to spend a snow day,” Thompson said.
Just then, one of her team members joked that she wouldn’t be able to change teams if things didn’t go well.
“No changes in team members will be allowed during the competition,” she read aloud a rule stating such.
Becky Abate and Julie Jones accompanied a group made up of their children and some friends. Abate said they were in it for fun.
April Fountain, Library Specialist took a moment to review the rules, before giving the signal.
Fountain asked for a show of hands, which revealed all participants were first-time competitors.
She proceeded to read aloud the rules, including the word “Jigsaw” as the word to yell out, signaling your team had completed its puzzle.
A count of remaining puzzle pieces determined the second and third place finishers.
In an event of a tie, remaining participants would engage in a 10-minute overtime, and the loose pieces would be counted again.
One the teams got the go ahead to begin, their strategies unfolded at about 4:05 p.m.
Aikey’s team worked together at a feverish pace, turning all of the colorful tiles right side up and sorting them.
Over at Thompson’s table, teammates used small paper plates, approved by the judges, to sort puzzle pieces according to color.
In the end, it was Aikey and Wolf’s team that finished first, capturing the first place, gold medals and a gift certificate for Sammy’s Pizza, completing their puzzle at 6:06 p.m.
Second place winners had 478 pieces left, and third 635, respectively and were awarded silver and bronze medals.
Members of the first place team, in addition and Wolf, are: Lane Sowers, Suzy Wolff and Stella Opacich.
Medals were awarded to the second and third place finishers.
Each team was allowed to keep their puzzle.
Contestant Morghan Mihin works on her section of a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle during a puzzle making contest hosted by the Hibbing Public Library Wednesday afternoon. Photo by MARK SAUER for Mesabi Tribune.
Source: https://www.mesabitribune.com/news/dissectologists-go-head-to-head/article_db653b7e-eef2-11ef-81c4-4b574b208487.html