Congratulations, Once More

Just as the student scholars at El Camino Real High School no doubt never tire of winning the local Academic Decathlon, we never tire of congratulating them. For the fourth year in a row, the Woodland Hills campus fielded a team that bested 59 schools from across Los Angeles Unified School District in a grueling battle of brains.

Next month, the team competes in Stockton against schools from up and down the state. In April, the winner of that match will represent California at the national competition in Orange County. El Camino took the national title last year--and team members are eager for a repeat.

El Camino’s intellectual juggernaut is no accident. Students on the team work hard, cramming for the decathlon’s quizzes and tests and impromptu speeches. All the while, they maintain full class loads. Coaches work just as hard, preparing materials that give their charges an edge. It takes dedication and teamwork, as 17-year-old Nancy Fu pointed out.

Nancy won the top individual score in the competition but said it was “nothing compared to the team award. One person can’t go on by themselves. The decathlon is very much a team event.” In addition to Nancy, that team includes Vadim Bendersky, Meeta Chakravarti, Lisa Concoff, Rajesh Jaganath, Kamil Nagi, Michael Pak, Tara Paravar and Jared Quinn.

After a brief break, the team began hitting the books again last week in its quest to grab the school’s fourth state championship. The Times wishes the Conquistadores the best of luck in Stockton and a hearty congratulations for a stellar victory.