SHS Competes at Regional Academic Decathlon-Win Record 46 Individual Medals!

January 17, 2016

Twelve SHS Seniors represented Seward High at the Nebraska Academic Decathlon Regional competition for medium schools at the Bellevue East High School on Saturday, January 17, 2016 in an all day contest involving a Quiz Bowl and individual testing in six categories in the national Academic Decathlon program-capturing a record 46 medals-the most of any Seward team in the last two decades of competition.  The tests were on the subjects of Math, Science, Economics, Language and Literature featuring the novel “Nectar n a Sieve” by Kamala Markandaya and Art and Music.  The overall theme for the testing was India!  The students all took the same tests during the day; however they competed only with other students with their same grade point averages and were divided in to categories of Honor (A) grade point averages, Scholastic (B) grade point averages and Varsity (C) grade point averages in their core classes only.  There were two divisions in each group-regular and alternate teams.  An awards ceremony followed the contests.

Students representing Seward included Will Brown, Will Helmer, Ben Galusha, Josh Hendrickson, Dylan Duer, Bryson Schluckebier, Bailey Haas, Katrina Bergantzel, Adam Siebrandt, Hannah Wallace, Beatrice Pfeiffer and Brodie Oshel.  Clark Kolterman serves as their team sponsor and coach along with SHS Concordia University student teacher, Stephanie Shearer of Arapahoe, NE.

The SHS Academic Decathlon Quiz Bowl team included Will Brown, Will Helmer, Dylan Duer, Hannah Wallace and Adam Siebrandt.  The Quiz Bowl team captured the Second Place honors and all the members received the Silver medals.

There were 46 individual medals awarded to Seward High students, including the Quiz Bowl medals and they were earned in the tests score competition from SHS competitors-the most medals won by a Seward High team in their two decades of competitions!   SHS Senior, Will Brown was recognized and won a gold medal and first place for earning the top score for the Seward team. 

There were many tie scores in the individual team’s awards.  Each group won medals in their specific category-as the students competed only with those with the same grade point averages.  The results for the Seward competitors included—in Language and Literature-Brodie Oshel placed 1^st, Beatrice Pfeiffer-2^nd, Karina Bergantzel-2^nd, Hannah Wallace-3^rd, Dylan Duer-3^rd.  The results in the Art test included Adam Siebrandt-2^nd, Dylan Duer-2^nd, Brodie Oshel-2^nd, Josh Hendrickson-3^rd, Beatrice Pfeiffer-1^st, Katrina Bergantzel-1^st and Ben Galusha-1^st.     In Economics Josh Hendrickson placed 1^st, Katrina Bergantzel -1^st, Beatrice Pfeiffer-1^st, Brodie Oshel-2^nd, Ben Galusha 2^nd, Adam Siebrandt-3^rd and Dylan Duer-3^rd.  In Science Adam Siebrandt won -1^st, Dylan Duerr-1^st, Brodie Oshel-1^st, Ben Galusha-1^st, Josh Hendrickson-1^st, Katrina Bergantzel-1^st, Beatrice Pfeiffer-2^nd, Bryson Schluckebier-3^rd, Hannah Wallace-3^rd, In Music Adam Siebrandt placed 1^st, Will Brown-1^st, Beatrice Pfeiffer-1^st, Ben Galusha-2^nd, Brodie Oshel-2^nd, and Josh Hendrickson-3^rd.    In Math Josh Hendrickson-1^st, Brodie Oshel 1^st, Katrina Bergantzel-2^nd, Beatrice Pfeiffer-2^nd, Adam Siebrandt-2^nd and Dylan Duer 3^rd.

Seward High was also recognized for participating in the Nebraska Academic Decathlon for 20 years, coached all those years by Clark Kolterman.  The team is sponsored and funded by the School District of Seward, the Seward High Ability Learner program (HAL) and the Seward Optimist Club.  The Seward Optimist Club also donated special SHS Academic Decathlon tee shirts for each member of the SHS Academic Decathlon team.

There are four categories/divisions in the Nebraska Academic Decathlon program including Large, Medium, Small and Very Small schools.  Seward High is in the Medium school division with York, Lexington, Alliance, Beatrice, Omaha Daniel Gross, Omaha Skutt High and Seward.

The top 25% of the teams will advance to the State Finals in February and the results will be announced once the scores are audited.