Decathlon Team Given a Heroes’ Welcome
The euphoria was only just beginning to wear off Thursday for El Camino Real High School’s academic decathlon team, which last weekend captured 34 medals and second place in the national competition in Atlanta.
Hoping to savor the Woodland Hills team’s accomplishments as long as possible, the school held a noon pep rally for its returning heroes, who were also the California state academic decathlon champions. Team members and coaches were praised by Sid Thompson, superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, school board President Mark Slavkin, and representatives of Mayor Richard Riordan, City Councilwoman Laura Chick and County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky.
The team placed a close second behind J. Frank Dobie High School of Pasadena, Texas, in the 15th annual Academic Decathlon.
Tired from the countless hours of preparation for the decathlon, team members said they weren’t looking forward to all the work they have to do to catch up at El Camino.
“We have so much makeup work, it’s ridiculous,” said Sarah Sabolek.
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