Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School notched its second consecutive Georgia Academic Decathlon championship, with six students taking home medals.
Assistant principal Terri Vandiver said the win is an accomplishment that speaks to the dedication of the students on the decathlon team and their preparation for competition.
“We’re so proud of them,” Mrs. Vandiver said.
The school’s academic decathlon team was named state champion and Division II winner in the small-school category. The team scored the highest number of points overall in Divisions I and II in the competition held in Lilburn, Ga., in February by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, officials said.
“Not only are we successful in our athletics, like with our girls basketball team, but also in our academics,” Mrs. Vandiver said.
The Lady Warriors basketball team ended their season as region champs, losing in the second round of the state playoffs.
Mrs. Vandiver said Ian and Lisa Beck, the decathlon team’s husband and wife teacher/coaches, showed deep commitment this year to their students and school.
“They even have a baby on the way, and they are sacrificing all their time at home when they could be getting ready for that,” she said.
The Becks were unavailable for comment Monday because of illness.
Elsewhere in the region, Northwest Whitfield High School in Whitfield County and Catoosa’s other high school, Ringgold High, each had two individual medalists, records show.
This year, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe students Casey Crook, Joey Bowen and Steven Harris swept the category for “highest individual cumulative score.” Three other team members also got medals, records show.
Last year, state champ Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe finished fourth in the United States Academic Decathlon, association officials said.
“Once you have won the (state) championship, that sets the bar up so that the next year the competing teams are hoping that they can defeat you,” said Lynn Varner, manager of the association.
In April, the team heads to the national-level competition in Omaha, Neb., Ms. Varner said.
Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe’s team is “well-positioned for the nationals” as 2009 Rookie of the Year, she said.
MEDAL COUNT
Twenty-four teams from 17 Georgia school districts competed in the Georgia Academic Decathlon in February. Below are North Georgia students who received individual medals.
Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School
Casey Crook: 4 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
Joey Bowen: 4 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
Steven Harris: 2 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze
Caitlin Russell: 1 gold, 1 bronze
Destin Sisemore: 2 silver, 1 bronze
Perry Elrod: 1 gold
Ringgold High School
Dylan Rush: 1 bronze
Dan Plottel: 1 gold
Northwest Whitfield High School
Kate Hoyt: 1 bronze
Adam Duncanson: 1 bronze
Source: Professional Association of Georgia Educators