Smart and Proud

The best and brightest of our area’s youth are showing their stuff this weekend at the seventh annual Ventura County Academic Decathlon.

Although teams from Moorpark and Simi Valley high schools have dominated the competition in years past, they share congratulations and community pride with scholars from Adolfo Camarillo, Buena, Channel Islands, Hueneme, Newbury Park, Oxnard, Rio Mesa, Santa Susana, Thousand Oaks, Ventura and Westlake high schools, who faced off in the first round of competition Saturday at Oxnard High.

The winning Ventura County team will advance to state competition in March and, if victorious there, to nationals in April.

Like other competitors, these athletes train hard and rely on teamwork and enthusiasm to accomplish their goals. Their coaches drill them every bit as rigorously as any jocks. And the benefits of the quest--win or lose--will last a lifetime.

No matter which team comes out on top, the whole county can cheer for these young scholars who prove it’s cool to be smart.