To the Victors Go the Spoils

With the pomp and circumstance usually reserved for athletes or for soldiers returning from battle, El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills congratulated its Academic Decathlon team Friday for winning its seventh consecutive district title.

On a warm, sunny day, 3,400 students used their morning nutrition break to applaud the nine decathletes, as well as members of the Envirothon team, which recently won a regional science competition.

The Academic Decathlon team won the Los Angeles Unified School District competition on Wednesday and will go to the state contest next month in Modesto. The school’s two Envirothon teams placed first and second in their regionals and will participate in the state finals in April in Oakhurst. As the El Camino band blared and the cheer team yelled, students threw down their Spanish and literature books and watched the proceedings on the quad’s grassy lawn.

“Can we say seven in a row?” asked Assistant Principal Gloria Morrison. The decathletes are not only seven-time district champs, they also won the national contest last year and in 1998.

Stephanie Spear, a 17-year-old senior, paused to cheer on the academic competitors.

“They get a lot of respect,” she said.

Spear’s friend, Ilyse Blitz, 18, said the yearly rally lifts the spirits of decathletes, and now Envirothon team members, as they hit their books to prepare for the state competition. “It boosts up their self-esteem and helps us win,” Blitz said.

In the Envirothon competition, students work together to answer written questions and conduct hands-on projects on environmental topics, such as forestry, wildlife and soils, said Coach Scott Holloway.

“It’s like real life,” Holloway said. “They work in a team situation.”

El Camino competed in the Envirothon regionals for the first time last year, placing second, and went on to capture second place in the statewide contest.

In the Academic Decathlon, team members compete in 10 academic subjects as individuals and their scores are combined to create a team score.

Preparing for the decathlon events consumes many hours, and the decathletes often devote seven hours a day, countless summer days and Saturdays to studying. But the hard work leads to national prestige and recognition for El Camino, said decathlete Ketti Augusztiny, 17.

“This is what we’re known for,” she said.

The decathletes said they appreciated Friday’s rally because they know many other schools and competitors do not receive as much encouragement.

“Our program is so great because of the support of the teachers and students,” said decathlon team member Behnam Bozorgi, 17. “They’re the reason for our success.”

About a dozen teachers volunteered to help the students prepare for competitions in categories such as art, economics and speech, said Melinda Owens, one of El Camino’s decathlon coaches.

Although competitions are nerve-racking, 17-year-old decathlete Adam Mann said he is looking forward to the state contest.

“Bring it on,” he said with a smile.