Academic Decathlon students study hard for competition
Academic Decathlon team members are intelligent, heart warming and hardworking.
JESSICA FLIPPEN

“Some teachers say they’re nuts, some say they’re incredible,” was the response Steve Browning gave when asked about those competing in the Academic Decathlon.

The different sections of the team are divided by grade point average (GPA) level. On the Honors level, Elizabeth Zei-lens, Mike McCarty and Kim Usher are chosen competitors. Andrea Mowrer, Mike Cole and Domenic Ditomaso will compete on the Scholastic level. Competing on Varsity are Jennifer Munn, Matt Fullerton and Patricia Amick. Alternates include Ashley Vetter, Cody Camp-bell, Amit Gurnani and Rose Butler.

Being a team member requires time and effort. One student admitted, “If you do sports or something, practices are kind of tough.”

Each student prepares for 10 divisions, including a super-quiz on Lewis and Clark, a Literature test on Death Comes for the Arch-bishop, Botany, Early Ameri-can Art, Early American Music, Economics, an Essay Portion, a Speech, an Inter-view, and Math.

When asked about the strengths of the team and its members, the whole team agreed that they all had different strengths; that each member contributed as a whole with their unique abilities.

The Academic Decathlon was held February 7, with the essay competition January 30. Most of the team admitted that they were nervous as they prepared for competition. However, when the juniors were asked if they wished to participate again the following year, they replied, “If we have a coach like Senor, then yeah.”

Senor Browning said he enjoys working with such intelligent, hardworking and heart-warming students at Yosemite High School.