Chaffey High's run comes to an end
The state Academic Decathlon that ended Sunday marked the end of the line for the nine seniors on Chaffey High School's squad.
The San Bernardino County decathlon champions didn't take the top prize but did finish eighth in the state.
Sixty-two high schools took part in the 31st annual California Academic Decathlon, which started Friday in Sacramento.
"It was grueling," said Steven Mercado, the Chaffey coach.
Students were tested in math, economics, science, language and literature, music, art and social science, and the French Revolution. They also had to provide impromptu and prepared speeches in front of a panel of interviewers.
"On Saturday, the kids did 50-minute essays, then they had to do seven multiple- choice exams," Mercado said. On Sunday, "they did their speeches and interviews, then the Super Quiz relay."
Donna St. George, the coach of Redlands High School, agreed with Mercado that the competition was grueling.
"For Chaffey to crack top 10 -- that's an accomplishment," she said. "And I'm thrilled for Redlands. The questions are so much tougher at state, but this year our score was almost identical to the score we had at the county, and that is a major accomplishment."
Students from El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills took first place. They were followed by John Marshall High School in Los Angeles and Granada Hills Charter High School.
Redlands finished in 16th place, and Chino Hills High took 25th.
The competition marked the final time the Chaffey team will compete together.
"This is difficult for me to let go of them because they've become family," Mercado said. "Some of these kids I've had for four years, and virtually all of them have had me as a teacher."
Both schools are already gearing up for next year's competition and recruiting future competitors.
"Next year we're hoping to win the county," St. George said.
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