Alemany Wins Private Schools’ Decathlon

When most people think of Alemany High School, earthquakes, not IQs, come to mind, say students of the San Fernando Valley Catholic school.

Well, think again.

A team of nine Alemany High students won the private schools’ Academic Decathlon this weekend, beating 25 other teams from schools throughout Los Angeles County and Southern California.

“When you say Alemany, people think we’re the little school that got crushed in the earthquake,” said Darryl Hwang, a 17-year-old senior who scored the most points in the 10-event academic competition. “They think of us as some little red schoolhouse on a pile of rubble.”

But the 1,600-student school--so badly damaged by the Northridge quake it had to relocate--showed its formidable academic mettle, scoring 43,790 points out of a possible 60,000 on the ten tests and the Super Quiz. The event, held Saturday at Pius X-St. Mathias High School in Downey, was similar to the public school competition also held over the weekend.

St. Francis High School in La Canada Flintridge took second place, and Bishop Amat Memorial High in La Puente took third.

The Alemany students will face regional private and public school winners at the state academic decathlon championship in March. The state winner is eligible for the national competition.

The Alemany team members are already looking forward to the state contest.

“We’re going to cram like there’s no tomorrow,” said Guy Guyadeen, a 17-year-old senior. “It’s going to be the driving force for us from now until March.”

The Alemany students have been studying since June. But the nine winning team members were only chosen a week ago from a squad of 14 students, said team coach Bill Bradish, who also teaches physics and chemistry.

All the team members, including the alternates, relished the campuswide attention they received Monday following their victory. Bradish introduced them on a stage during the school’s lunch hour as classmates cheered and whistled.

The team members, students with A, B and C averages, said the Academic Decathlon has virtually taken over their lives. Some gave up sports activities, one gave up Girl Scouts and another quit working.

Said Jason Bogue, an 18-year-old senior: “This helps promote the school. It’ll point a finger toward us.”

But what did they gain personally?

“A lot of stress,” quipped Alicia Nieves, a 17-year-old senior.

Teammate Katie Noyes, her gold, bronze and silver medals clanging around her neck, said she was glad to help bring recognition to the campus. “I think it’ll give us an academic edge,” she said.

Team member Brandye Brent, who wore five medals around her neck, said the decathlon was a personal challenge.

“I learned that if I really put my mind to it, I could achieve more than I ever thought possible.”