By The Leader Staff
Students celebrate. (L to R) front: Gwynith Champlin, Naeryl Ronquillo, Gurmannat Chalotra, Kodiac Valentino. Back Row:  Janet Bengtson (coach), Richard Harmiel, Drevin Rivera, Lana Moore, Clarissa Morgan, Nicolo Wheaton and Allen Tong (coach).
Students celebrate. (L to R) front: Gwynith Champlin, Naeryl Ronquillo, Gurmannat Chalotra, Kodiac Valentino. Back Row: Janet Bengtson (coach), Richard Harmiel, Drevin Rivera, Lana Moore, Clarissa Morgan, Nicolo Wheaton and Allen Tong (coach).
Photo Contributed by John Bengtson

Lemoore's Middle College High School continued its winning ways on Saturday, February 5, when its team won the 40th anniversary Kings County Academic Decathlon despite the pandemic's third year. The Middle College High School, located on the West Hills Community College Lemoore campus, was its 10th consecutive Kings County title.

This year's academic decathlon was conducted "virtually" as each school competed from its own site. Local volunteers with the Kings County Office of Education worked from the Lemoore Service Center to put on the event.

"The kids dealt with a fair amount of adversity this year, but they managed to persevere," said the team's longtime coach, Allen Tong. 

"They really put in the extra time these past three weeks. I'm very proud of our team's efforts, especially in light of present circumstances. Ask any coach; running a successful program in anything right now is a challenge."

This year's theme was "Water" as teams from Corcoran High School, Hanford High School, Hanford West High School, Lemoore High School, Lemoore Middle College High School, and Sierra Pacific High School competed in a rigorous set of academic examinations demonstrating their versatility in a variety of scholarly categories.

Each team is comprised of "A," "B," and "C" students.

As usual, Kings County team members participated in ten grueling events, including Art, Economics, Mathematics, Music, Language & Literature, Social Science, and Science. In addition, the contestants performed prepared and impromptu speeches, authored essays on a given topic, and participated in interview competitions.

In all, Lemoore Middle College decathletes earned 71 medals and 17 scholarships on their way to winning their 10th straight title. The studying isn't over for Lemoore's AD winners. They're expected to attend the California state competition scheduled for early March.

Lemoore's Middle College School won the annual event again, amassing a team total of 40,955.1 points, easily outdistancing second-place finisher Lemoore High School with 26,955.1 points. Lemoore High narrowly outlasted third place Corcoran High School with its 26,756.5 points, and fourth-place finisher Hanford High amassed 25,031.0 points while Hanford West took fifth place and Sierra Pacific High finished in the sixth spot.

Lemoore Middle College High School will advance to the State Academic Decathlon competition in Sacramento in March.

Individual medals and scholarships were awarded to students from each participating school at the event awards ceremony.  

Top AD students

Top Decathlete – Gurmannat Chalotra, Lemoore Middle College High School, $500 scholarship

Top Varsity Student - Richard Harmiel, Lemoore Middle College High School, $250 scholarship

Top Scholastic Student - Lana Moore, Lemoore Middle College High School, $250 scholarship

Top Honors Student – Gurmannat Chalotra, Lemoore Middle College High School, $250 scholarship

Top Student Corcoran HS- Bishop Lee Martinez, $200

Top Student Hanford HS- Angel Moran-Padilla,$200

Top Student Hanford West HS- Antonio Martinez, $200

Top Student Lemoore HS- Angel Aboloje $200

Top Student Lemoore Middle College HS- Gurmannat Chalotra, $200

Top Student Sierra Pacific HS- Aniruddha Ashok, $200

Other scholarship winners included:

Language & Literature: Gurmannat Chalotra, Lemoore Middle College High School, $100

Language & Literature: Naeryl Ronquillo, Lemoore Middle College High School, $100

Music: Gurmannat Chalotra, Lemoore Middle College High School, $100

Science: Nicolo Wheaton, Lemoore Middle College High School, $100

Art: Gurmannat Chalotra, Lemoore Middle College High School, $100

Mathematics: Naeryl Ronquillo, Lemoore Middle College High School, $100

Economics: Gurmannat Chalotra, Lemoore Middle College High School, $100

Social Science: Gurmannat Chalotra, Lemoore Middle College High School, $100

Essay: Gurmannat Chalotra, Lemoore Middle College High School, $100

Essay: Nicolo Wheaton, Lemoore Middle College High School, $100

Speech: Naeryl Ronquillo, Lemoore Middle College High School, $100

Speech: Gurmannat Chalotra, Lemoore Middle College High School, $100

Speech: Kodi Valentino, Lemoore Middle College High School, $100

Speech: Alexa Aguilera-Alvarez, Lemoore Middle College High School $100

Interview: Angel Aboloje, Lemoore Middle College High School, $100