Seward High Performs Well at Regional Academic Decathlon in Omaha
The SHS Academic Decathlon Team competed in the Nebraska AD on Saturday all day in a series of academic testing situations and a quiz bowl to compete for the opportunity to qualify for the State Academic Decathlon competition in Omaha in February-bringing home twenty two medals during the day long competition. The team members all took the same tests in a variety of categories, but only competed with the students with their core grade point averages. Tests were given in Math, Science, Social Science, Economics, Music, Art, and Literature. A Super Quiz Bowl- over the Social Science division was held at the end of the day. The students were also tested over the novel Transit by Anna Seghers. All members took the same tests, however the students were divided into three categories based on their grade point averages and competed against only students with the same GPA’s.
Team members for this year’s Academic Decathlon included Sydney Erickson, Evan Mettenbrink, Riley Pollock, Andrew Pavel, Joshua Sherman, Wyatt Shafer, Kevin Lyon, Hendrik van der Heijden, Jayden Germer, and Sam Perry.
The SHS Academic Decathlon Quiz Bowl team was Sydney Erickson, Evan Mettenbrink, Wyatt Shafer, Kevin Lyon, Jayden Germer and Sam Perry. Coaches/sponsors for the team are Clark Kolterman, Pam Franck and Kyle Hinkel. Mrs. Franck and Mrs. Hinkel accompanied the team to the Regional Competition at Bellevue East, as Mr. Kolterman was at a Speech Tournament.
The top team member-gaining the highest total score on the SHS AD team was Evan Mettenbrink, who received a special medal and recognition from the team. Other winners included Math-Evan Mettenbrink-First place, Kevin Lyon-Second place, Josh Sherman-Second place and Wyatt Shafer third place. In Art, Andrew Pavel placed Second. In the Music Division, Sydney Erickson-First place, Kevin Lyon-Second place, and Hendrick van der Heijden placed Second. In the Economics Division, Wyatt Shafer place Third and Andrew Pavel placed Third. In the Science Division, Evan Mettenbrink placed Second, Wyatt Shafer placed Third, Kevin Lyon Placed Third, Andrew Pavel placed Third and Josh Sherman placed third. The Quiz Bowl team placed First Over all the Medium Schools in the contest and each Quiz Bowl member received a medal for their efforts!!! A total of twenty two medals were awarded to the Seward team at the tournament.
The school is now waiting to be given the final total confirmations to see who will be the state finalist schools. Schools competing in the Medium School Division include Skutt Catholic-Omaha, Daniel Gross Catholic-Omaha, York, Lexington, Alliance, Seward.
This is the twentieth year that Seward High has been involved in the National Academic program and last year the team placed Second at Regionals. Seward’s team went on to win the State Championship in the Medium Division and placed 13th nationally in an online competition in 2016! The SHS Academic Decathlon Team is sponsored annually by the School District of Seward, the School District of Seward High Ability Learner Program (HAL) and the Seward Optimist Club. Special SHS tee shirts for the team and sponsors were donated by the Seward Optimist Club.