2012 National Academic Decathlon in Albuquerque

Daniel Berdichevsky hands out alpaca finger puppets to teams at the 2012 National Academic Decathlon in Albuquerque.  (Eric Draper / For the Los Angeles Times)

Alpaca finger puppets show a whimsical side of the National Academic Decathlon.  (Eric Draper / For the Los Angeles Times)

Granada Hills Charter High School’s Hamidah Mahmud carries the California state flag during the start of the Super Quiz on Friday.  (Eric Draper / For the Los Angeles Times)

Granada Hills’ Lev Tauz studies before the Super Quiz.  (Eric Draper / For the Los Angeles Times)

Lev Tauz ponders a question during the Super Quiz.  (Eric Draper / For the Los Angeles Times)

Sean Wejebe of Granada Hills Charter High mulls over a question during the Super Quiz.  (Eric Draper / For the Los Angeles Times)

Granada Hills’ Julia Wall reacts during the Super Quiz.  (Eric Draper / For the Los Angeles Times)

Jimmy Wu of Granada Hills Charter High shows enthusiasm at the Super Quiz.  (Eric Draper / For the Los Angeles Times)

Daniel Berdichevsky shows off a pin at the 2012 National Academic Decathlon in Albuquerque.  (Eric Draper / For the Los Angeles Times)

Members of the Granada Hills Charter High School team accept their championship plaque after winning the Super Quiz in a tie with a Chicago school. From left are Jimmy Wu, Christian Koguchi, Pricilla Liu, Sean Wejebe and Kimberly Ly.  (Eric Draper / For the Los Angeles Times)

Members of the Granada Hills team celebrate with their championship plaque after winning the Super Quiz in a tie.  (Eric Draper / For the Los Angeles Times)