MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — The 2023 Madera County Academic Pentathlon culminated with the Super Quiz and Awards Ceremony on Saturday, April 29, naming Mountain Home School Charter this year’s champion team.
Nearly 100 students participated in this five-event academic competition, held on February 14 and April 29. Students competed in the areas of essay, fine arts, literature, science and social science. This year’s topic was “The American Revolution and the New Nation.”
Sherman Thomas STEM Academy came in second place and Oak Creek Intermediate School placed third.
Mountain Home School Charter also earned first place in the Super Quiz followed by Sherman Thomas STEM Academy. Oak Creek Intermediate earned third place.
Dr. Cecilia Massetti.
“Madera County’s middle school pentathletes continually amaze us at the Pentathlon,” said Dr. Cecilia Massetti, Madera County Superintendent of Schools. “They worked hard all year and studied countless hours, showed exceptional sportsmanship, team spirit, and dedication throughout the contest. Our students did extremely well.”
This year teams consisted of 7th and 8th grade students. Individual medals for each subject were handed out based on grade level. Each team consisted of up to 25 students per team. Students had to compete in all five events to earn medals. Teams had been practicing for this event since October.
Additional participating teams included: Eastin-Arcola Elementary, Jack G. Desmond Middle, Howard Elementary, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle, Ranchos Middle, and Thomas Jefferson Middle Schools.
The Academic Pentathlon is sponsored by Madera County Superintendent of Schools and the Madera County Schools Foundation and supported by community donations.
Mountain Home 1st Place Team members include: Benjamin Brokaw, Desmond Dent, Sarah Johnson, Ian Judd, Michael Lockwood, Naomi Marshall, Benjamin Painter, Isabel Rich, Lyla Williams. Coached by Kim Meeks and Julie Davis.
Award Recipients
Essay – 7th Grade
Gold: Darragh Henderson, Oak Creek Intermediate School
Silver: Ella Braga, Ranchos Middle School
Bronze: Ian Nolan, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
Bronze: Zeev Adler, Ranchos Middle School
Bronze: Valentina Lara-Tapia, Jack G. Desmond Middle School
4th: Kya Bitter, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
Essay – 8th Grade
Gold: Rorey Booth, Oak Creek Intermediate School
Silver: Talitha Parra, Oak Creek Intermediate School
Bronze: Michelle Tran, Oak Creek Intermediate School
4th: Gabriel Gray, Ranchos Middle School
Fine Arts – 7th Grade
Gold: Daniela Oxelson, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
Silver: Kya Bitter, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
Bronze: Valentina Lara-Tapia, Jack G. Desmond Middle School
Bronze: Jacob Silva, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
4th: Ian Nolan, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
4th: Patricia Enrique, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
4th: Julian Valdez, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
Fine Arts – 8th Grade
Gold: Benjamin Brokaw, Mountain Home School Charter
Silver: Sarah Johnson, Mountain Home School Charter
Bronze: Jonathan Hernandez-Luz, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
4th: Ian Judd, Mountain Home School Charter
Literature – 7th Grade
Gold: Daniela Oxelson, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
Silver: Ian Nolan, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
Bronze: Kya Bitter, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
4th: Valentina Lara-Tapia, Jack G. Desmond Middle School
Literature – 8th Grade
Gold: Benjamin Brokaw, Mountain Home School Charter
Gold: Brianna Garcia-Rocha, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
Silver: Ian Judd, Mountain Home School Charter
Silver: Rorey Booth, Oak Creek Intermediate School
Silver: Sarah Johnson, Mountain Home School Charter
Bronze: Sophia Huerta, Ranchos Middle School
Bronze: Braeden Bispham, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
4th: Alex Nguyen, Thomas Jefferson Middle School
Science – 7th Grade
Gold: Daniela Oxelson, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
Silver: Darragh Henderson, Oak Creek Intermediate School
Bronze: Joseph Razo II, Jack G. Desmond Middle School
Bronze: Adrian Abundiz, Thomas Jefferson Middle School
Bronze: Valentina Lara-Tapia, Jack G. Desmond Middle School
Bronze: Ella Braga, Ranchos Middle School
4th: Kya Bitter, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
Science – 8th Grade
Gold: Benjamin Brokaw, Mountain Home School Charter
Gold: Ian Judd, Mountain Home School Charter
Silver: Lilly Cosentino, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
Silver: Rorey Booth, Oak Creek Intermediate School
Bronze: Jonathan Hernandez-Luz, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
Bronze: Brianna Garcia-Rocha, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
4th: Sarah Johnson, Mountain Home School Charter
Social Science – 7th Grade
Gold: Kya Bitter, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
Silver: Valentina Lara-Tapia, Jack G. Desmond Middle School
Bronze: Daniela Oxelson, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy
4th: Justesy Vasquez, Ranchos Middle School
Social Science – 8th Grade
Gold: Benjamin Brokaw, Mountain Home School Charter
Silver: Brianna Garcia-Rocha, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
Bronze: Ian Judd, Mountain Home School Charter
4th: Sophia Huerta, Ranchos Middle School
4th: Kate Vanlandingham, Oak Creek Intermediate School
Oak Creek 3rd Place Team members include: Kaia Agee, Journey Bartlett, Rorey Booth, Amelia Burnett, Darragh Henderson, Emily Kirby, June Nagata, Katelyn Nguyen, Ava Radliff, Daniel Shepherd, Camila-Rose Thanasulas, Michelle Tran, Holly Vanlandingham, Kate Vanlandingham. Coached by Jennifer Bodine, Laura Jeffris, Jacqueline Neff.
