- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Kelseyville High headed to state Academic Decathlon; team needs help raising funds for trip
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Kelseyville High School Academic Decathlon team will travel to Sacramento next month to represent Lake County in the state competition, but the team will need help covering the costs of the expensive trip.
On Feb. 2 the team – in its second year back in the county competition after a hiatus of several years – won the county Academic Decathlon, upsetting defending champion Upper Lake High, which has won the majority of local competitions over the past decade.
This year's competition topic is Russia, its culture and history.
Kelseyville High entered two teams in the competition and Team A – Eduardo Alatorre, Blair Brookes, Jennifer Johnson, Daniel Lucas, Caitlin Meisle, Onnivin Pelzel, Maeve Rixen, David Robinson, Helen Ryan, Amanda Spitzer, Tatiana Taranenko and Maxwell Whitaker – won with a score of 36,390.40, according to state Academic Decathlon competition records.
Led by coaches Erick Larsen and Heather Koschik, the team is preparing to make the trip to the California Academic Decathlon, which will be held in Sacramento Thursday, March 14, through Sunday, March 17.
There are three divisions, which the state competition reported are determined by regional scores. Kelseyville High will compete along with 30 other schools in Division 3.
In order to get to Sacramento, they will need an estimated $7,000 to cover all of the expenses for the team members, alternates and coaches – 15 in all – set to make the trip, according to Gary Olson, a Kelseyville Unified School District Board member who is helping with fundraising.
He said he met with the team last week and told them not to worry about raising the money, that their job was to continue studying and preparing for the state competition.
In addition to three nights' lodging at the Hyatt Regency in Sacramento, the team must cover meals, transportation and approximately $600 in competition entry fees, Olson said.
He said the Lake County Office of Education is contributing $2,000 toward the state competition expenses, and Kelseyville Unified and Kelseyville High School also will offer support, but the amount hasn't yet been determined.
Olson is asking for the community's support to help the team make the trip.
He said no amount is too small, and all support will send a message to the hardworking students that what they've achieved so far, and have yet to achieve, is appreciated and valued by their community.
Olson said checks can be made payable to Kelseyville High School; “AcaDeca team” can be placed in the check's memo line.
He asked that checks be mailed to him at 5716 Main St., Kelseyville, CA 95451.
Checks from individuals, businesses, and local organizations all are welcome, he said.
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