Vittorio Colicci ’18
EE Staff Writer
Following unprecedented success in its 2016 season, Trumbull High’s Academic Decathlon team has soared to great heights once again. On Saturday, February 27th, at the Connecticut USAD Championship, it swept the board, earning a record-breaking 63 medals and the title of state champion for a second consecutive year. The bar had been set high, but the team’s hard work and perseverance paid off.
Learning from last year’s victory, team members quickly got to work familiarizing themselves with this year’s theme, World War II. For the months leading up to the competition, there was no shortage in preparation. Lessons held twice a week prepared team members for testing, while comprehensive self-study provided the backbone for knowledge into specialized topics.
When the day finally arrived, the team was ready. As junior Ishan Negi notes, “Going into the competition this year, we definitely had a winning mentality. We came well-prepared and ready to execute our game plan, which we did.”
In total, the team amassed an impressive 31,561 points, surpassing even long-time Maryland rival Wootton High School. In the honors division, juniors Saloni Shah, Lalith Gannavaram, and Connor Flaherty received 3, 7, and 4 medals respectively. For the scholastic division, juniors Ishan Negi, Lizzy Stankevitz, and Vittorio Colicci each won 6, 5, and 6 medals. Senior Alexandra Dima and junior Daejah Woolery of the varsity division meanwhile earned 9 and 10 medals respectively.Now serving as co-president, Woolery has been involved in the club since freshman year. She describes the team’s impact, stating, “Decathlon has allowed me to become well rounded in so many different topics and has helped me to take the responsibility of leadership into other parts of my life.”
Alternates competing in the competition took advantage of the chance to make Trumbull proud as well. Freshman Sophie Calandro-Bitjeman earned two gold medals in interview and literature, an impressive feat for her first year with Decathlon.
Despite the intensity of the competition, there was still time to socialize with the other teams. “Even though we were competing against each other,” said Calandro-Bitjeman, “everyone could still sit down and enjoy themselves.”
Similarly, junior alternates Viraj Dongaonkar and Robert Foley, as well as sophomore Claudia Zhang, each earned 3 medals. Junior Harshpreet Singh medaled in economics as well.
These accomplishments have continued to motivate the team on its road to nationals, set to take place in Wisconsin from April 20-22. Hopefully, all of the extensive preparation will help to make it a huge success.