After a 13-year hiatus, Los Alamitos High School returned to compete in the Orange County Academic Decathlon (OCAD).
The Griffins’ team, led by head coach Kendall Ostermann and assistant coaches Samantha Burke, Josh Lee, Janice Tiratira, and Krista Trescott, placed in the Decathalon’s Third Division, which consisted of 16 teams. The theme for this year’s competition was World War II.
After a 13-year hiatus, Los Alamitos High School returned to compete in the Orange County Academic Decathlon (OCAD).
The Griffins’ team, led by head coach Kendall Ostermann and assistant coaches Samantha Burke, Josh Lee, Janice Tiratira, and Krista Trescott, placed in the Decathalon’s Third Division, which consisted of 16 teams. The theme for this year’s competition was World War II.
For those new to Academic Decathlon, or Aca Deca, teams of nine students participate in two days of rigorous competition where the students answer a wide range of questions in 10 academic subject areas, each connected to the year’s theme.
In addition to the test categories, students must compose an essay and deliver a prepared speech as well as an impromptu speech. The competition culminates in a Super Quiz that is conducted in the gymnasium of the host school, with each team rotating students to respond to questions.
The Griffins earned a total of 33 individual medals for placing in the top five in each subject area, including one student in the top 10 individual overall for Division 3. The team also took third place for the Super Quiz and won first place overall for Division Three.
This year’s Aca Deca team members are Jacob Rips, Katie Kubiatko, Joshua Rips, Kayhan Bakian, Frederick BremerBalestracci, Justin Vierregger, Dylan Madrid, Margaret Barath-Lane, Laura Kubiatko, Stella Kang, and Lindsay Park.
Dylan Madrid, a senior, won eight total medals, including five for 1st place and a top 10 in Overall Individual. Kayhan Bakian, a junior, took home seven total medals, including a first place medal for Speech.
The OCAD Awards Ceremony was held on Friday, February 10, at Santa Ana High School.
The Griffins’ team was formed during the months of September and October of this school year.
–This article appeared in the March 8, 2017 print edition of the News Enteprise.
