- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Upper Lake High School to represent Lake County at state Academic Decathlon
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Upper Lake High School’s Academic Decathlon team will once again represent Lake County as it advances to California’s Academic Decathlon competition.
The 2019-20 theme is, “In Sickness and in Health: An Exploration of Illness and Wellness.”
Students compete in three categories: varsity, 2.99 grade point average and below; scholastic, 3.0 to 3.74 GPA; and honor, 3.75 to 4.0 GPA.
The Upper Lake State Team includes: varsity, William Cromwell, Jisel Horne and Sierra Manley; scholastic, Atlantis Jones, Georgia Schmit and Annalise Smith; and honors, Deeya Kalan, Nobalie Snow and Maria Tinoco.
This year, the shape of the Lake County Academic Decathlon competition has changed significantly.
While the team over the years has drawn participation from high schools all over the county, last year it had dwindled to just Clear Lake High School and Upper Lake High, with Willits High School joining them for a combined competition that took place in Upper Lake.
For the 2019-2020 event, the only remaining Lake County High School was Upper Lake, according to a December announcement from Beth Hampson, the new Academic Decathlon coordinator for the Lake County Office of Education.
In her announcement to competition supporters, Hampson said Upper Lake was invited to participate in the North Bay Region Academic Decathlon this year, sponsored by the Solano County Office of Education.
Upper Lake High took online tests in academic subjects as part of the regional competition on Saturday, Jan. 25, before the Saturday competition at Solano Community College in Fairfield. There, students competed in speech, interview and the Super Quiz.
Anna Sabalone, Upper Lake’s coach, told Lake County News that 15 schools from six counties participated on Saturday.
The top 10 finishers are as follows:
– First: Vanden High School, 44,643 points; will represent Solano County at state.
– Second: Willits High School, 40,051 points; will represent Mendocino County at state.
– Third: American Canyon High School, 38,288 points; will represent Napa County at state.
– Fourth: Casa Grande High School, 36,638 points; will represent Sonoma County at state.
– Fifth: Rodriguez High School, Solano County, 34,480 points.
– Sixth: Upper Lake High, Lake County, 32,169 points; will represent Lake County at state.
– Seventh: MIT Academy, Solano County, 31,706 points.
– Eighth: Jesse Bethel High School, Solano County, 30,178 points.
– Ninth: Petaluma High School, Sonoma County, 28,598 points.
– Tenth: Davis Senior High School, 28,008 points; will represent Yolo County at state.
Other schools in the competition were Buckingham High School, Dixon High School, Maria Carrillo High School, River City High School and Vallejo High School.
Upper Lake team members who won individual medals are listed below.
Highest scoring decathletes by category and grade level, 10 events combined:
Varsity, 10th grade: gold medal, Sierra Manley, 4,633 points
Scholastic, ninth grade: Georgia Schmit, 4,492 points
Second-highest scoring decathletes by category and grade level:
Scholastic, ninth grade: Nobalie Snow, 4,490 points
Third-highest scoring decathletes by category and grade level:
Scholastic, 10th grade: Annalise Smith, 4,535 points
Essay:
Gold, scholastic: Nobalie Snow, 1,000 points
Bronze, varsity, Jasmine Haro, 819 points
Interview:
Gold, scholastic: Atlantis Jones, 980 points.
Silver, varsity: Sierra Manley, 980 points
Speech:
Gold, honor: Deeya Kalan, 1,000 points
Upper Lake’s dedicated academic decathletes will now get to work preparing for the state competition, which takes place March 26 to 29 in Sacramento.
The Lake County Friends of Mendocino College has approved $500 for travel expenses to support Upper Lake’s trip to the state competition.
For information on making a donation to help the Upper Lake team travel to the state competition, call Upper Lake High at 707-275-2338.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.