SBCSS Spotlights

Chaffey Beastly As County Academic Decathlon Champs

2013-02-08

These Tigers certainly look like the kings of the jungle.

The Tigers of Chaffey High School ran away with a back-to-back title at the 30th annual San Bernardino County Academic Decathlon competition, as results were released at the awards ceremony on Feb. 7.

"I am so proud of our kids and what they have accomplished," said Steve Mercado, coach at Chaffey High.

His teams have now won four of the past five county championships, and won this one with nearly a 4,000-point cushion over runner-up Redlands East Valley High School.

With 48,753.7 points at the county event, Chaffey will lead a record contingent of five county teams into the state competition in Sacramento on March 14-17. The point totals for the other top-five qualifiers were: Redlands East Valley (44,791.5 points), Rancho Cucamonga (43,949.3 points), Redlands (43,853.2) and Arroyo Valley (43,449.4).

Ontario, Cajon, Los Osos, Rialto and Upland rounded out the top 10 teams.

The previous highest total of county teams to advance to the state competition was four, which happened in 2011.

In this year's competition, there were 42 teams representing 24 high schools that competed. Teams, as well as individual students among about 370 competitors, were recognized with certificates, trophies and gold, silver or bronze medals at the awards ceremony that was held at the National Orange Show's Valencia Room.

The academic competition took place on two consecutive Saturdays on Jan. 26 and Feb. 2 at Arroyo Valley High School in San Bernardino. The scholastic contest pitted students from nine schools districts and one private school against one another in 10 subject areas.

Teams were composed of nine students, three each from grade point average categories of "A" (Honors), "B" (Scholastic) and "C" (Varsity). There were written tests in the areas of math, economics, science, language/literature, music, art and social science. Students also wrote an essay, faced a panel of interviewers and gave impromptu and prepared speeches. In the Super Quiz, Redlands took first place, followed by Chaffey and Arroyo Valley.

County Academic Decathlon winners
2012-13 Chaffey
2011-12 Chaffey
2010-11 Redlands
2009-10 Chaffey
2008-09 Chaffey
2007-08 Redlands
2006-07 Redlands
2005-06 Redlands
2004-05 Redlands
2003-04 Redlands East Valley
2002-03 Redlands
2001-02 Redlands
2000-01 Etiwanda
1999-00 Etiwanda
1998-99 Redlands
1997-98 Redlands
1996-97 Etiwanda
1995-96 Redlands
1994-95 Colton
1993-94 Redlands
1992-93 Fontana
1991-92 Alta Loma
1990-91 Redlands
1989-90 San Bernardino
1988-89 San Bernardino
1987-88 Fontana
1986-87 San Bernardino
1985-86 Etiwanda
1984-85 Upland
1983-84 Redlands