Dreher High captures second consecutive United States Academic Decathlon state championship

Dreher High School won the South Carolina United States Academic Decathlon championship held March 8 under the direction of USC’s Honors College and will represent the state in the national competition. This is Dreher’s second consecutive title and third in the last four years.

The United States Academic Decathlon is the most rigorous general academic competition in the country. Each year, a general theme is selected for study, and students prepare for 10 academic events related to the topic. Students are tested on language and literature, economics, science, mathematics, art, music and a super quiz on the unifying theme. The 2004 theme is the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Additionally, there are competitions in speech (impromptu and prepared), interview and essay.

Teams must be selected to include A, B and C students. The intent of the competition is to foster cooperation among students while promoting the study of a rigorous curriculum.

In the overall competition, David Wang was the gold medallist, Ted Wilcox received the silver, and Spencer Robinson received the bronze.

Dreher students captured 25 medals in individual events, including 11 gold, eight silver and 6 bronze.

Individual event winners were as follows: Essay, Ted Wilcox, gold and David Wang, silver; Music, Spencer Robinson, gold and Ted Wilcox, silver; Math, David Wang, gold, Spencer Robinson, silver and Ted Wilcox, bronze; Speech, Katie Abbott, gold, Rob Bockman, silver and David Wang and Ted Wilcox, bronze; Interview, Rob Bockman, silver; Economics, Ted Wilcox, gold and David Wang, bronze; Science, Spencer Robinson and David Wang, gold; Art, David Wang and Ted Wilcox, gold, Alex Crawford, silver and Katie Abbott, bronze; Language and Literature, David Wang, gold; Spencer Robinson, silver and Katie Abbott, bronze; and Superquiz, David Wang, gold and Rob Bockman, silver.

Team members Spencer Robinson, David Wang, Ted Wilcox, Katie Abbott, Rob Bockman, Dan Martin, Will Case, Alex Crawford and Will Lattimore will travel to Boise, Idaho, next month for the national competition.

Dreher teachers Linda Williams and Christina Murphy are the team’s coaches.