Academic Decathlon: In a State

Photo by Sam Hoppe

By Hayden Murry

Student Life Editor

February 2022

The school year has been a breakthrough for the Academic Decathlon Team. After qualifying for the virtual regional competition, the Decathletes were able to pull off something never done before. For the first time in school history, the team was able to qualify for the state competition.

Earning a third-place at their regional site, the team was also able to take home several ribbons which are awarded to the top scorers in each subject. Within their respective competing categories, members Danielle Lang, Braelyn Mayfield, Jayda McKinley, Sarah Ramsden, and PJ Wilson all were awarded a ribbon for their places in the top three competitors for speech.

“I felt very good when we found out that we had got third in the region. I was also thrilled to get first place in speech. I cried!” said Lang, a sophomore.

The team also racked up ribbons in the interview category. Dalton Raykowski and Reignah Reed, joined by Mayfield and Ramsden, secured places in the top three spots in the competition for the category. In the core academic subjects, Raykowski was able to place third in math, while Ramsden placed first in science.

“I was really excited and proud of myself, because I didn’t think I could do as well as I did!” said junior Noelani Najera. In addition to victories while competing, the team has been successful in growing the program’s funds and relevance. The team was able to receive steady funding from the district’s Gifted and Talented program, as well as several successful fundraisers such as a trivia night, bake sale, candycane-gram sale, and apparel sales.

The size of the team has dramatically increased, with the program nearly quadrupling in a single year. The competing team was originally only composed of one seasoned member, with all others being completely new to the Academic Decathlon scene.

“I’m extremely proud—there are no words to express how I feel!” said Academic Decathlon Coach Samantha Hoppe. “I feel like all of our hard work has paid off over the past four years!”

Recently, the decathletes discovered that (according to Coach Hoppe’s calculations) they had a one in three chance of making it to the nationals competition. With the state competition inching its way closer—starting on the February 24—the team is ecstatic, yet stressed with this prospect. “My feeling is just amazing overall, because that just pushes me to work even harder, knowing that we have a pretty good chance of making it to nationals!” exclaimed senior Jayda McKinley.