El Camino Real Cheers Its Champions

El Camino Real High School’s Academic Decathlon team received a hero’s welcome Friday when it returned to the Woodland Hills campus as city champion for the fourth year in a row.

The district win, announced Thursday night, allows the team to advance to the state competition in Stockton on March 12-14. It also gives El Camino Real a crack at repeating as national champion at the U.S. Academic Decathlon in Orange County in April.

As the marching band played and cheerleaders vaulted, team members--all seniors--basked in enthusiastic congratulations from the school’s 2,000 students and from teachers, administrators and parents.

“To win the city title four years in a row is an awesome feeling,” said Principal Ron Bauer, standing on a platform decorated with balloons on the campus quadrangle.

“I attribute it to a dedicated group of students and the best coaching staff in the city. It demonstrates what hard work and school pride can accomplish.”

Team member Tara Paravar was still riding a wave of excitement.

“We were so nervous because of the competing schools and the pressure on El Camino to win,” she said. “We pulled through, and I’m so happy for everyone on the team.”

The Conquistadores bested nine-member teams from 49 traditional high schools, six magnet schools and four alternative schools to capture their sixth title since the Los Angeles Unified School District began the contest 18 years ago.

During the two-day competition, which concluded last Saturday at Los Angeles Southwest College, students were quizzed on their knowledge of art, language and literature, math, music, social science and economics as well as tested on their essay writing, speaking and interviewing536870912skills.

El Camino Real accumulated 48,980 points, followed by Garfield High School with 45,780 and Belmont High School with 44,720.

Those three schools along with wild card qualifiers Los Angeles, Marshall and Palisades Charter high schools will represent the district in Stockton.

“The nerves were really up [Thursday] night,” said team member Meta Chakravarti. “When I went up on stage to get my medals, it was the most intense experience I have ever had in my life. After all our hard work, it was a reward.”

Team members and their coaches said they are not resting on their laurels. After a weekend off, they expect to hit the books again Monday, preparing to match wits with teams from across the state, including Moorpark High School, the Ventura County champion.

“They were second last year, and they want it bad,” said El Camino Real coach Mark Johnson. “It’s going to be one of the great state battles.”