MADERA COUNTY – Coarsegold Elementary School won top honors at the 2014 7th grade Academic Pentathlon, with Ranchos Middle School winning the 8th grade competition.
Nearly 400 students participated in this year’s five-event academic competition, held over two days. Math and essay tests were held on Friday, Mar. 14 at State Center Community College District Madera Center.
Literature, Speech and Super Quiz were held Saturday, Mar. 22, at Ranchos Middle School.
Ranchos Middle School placed second in the 7th grade competition, and Oak Creek Intermediate School took second in the 8th grade competition. Wilson Middle School came in third in the 7th grade competition, and Coarsegold Elementary School placed third in the 8th grade competition. This was Wilson’s first year competing.
St. Joachim School’s 7th and 8th grade teams placed first in the Super Quiz competition. Coarsegold Elementary School placed second in the 7th grade Super Quiz competition and Ranchos Middle School placed third. Ranchos Middle School placed second in the 8th grade competition with Coarsegold Elementary School coming in third.
“What a great day for our middle school students to showcase their academic talents,” said Cyndy Dolph, Associate Superintendent, Madera County Office of Education. “We had more schools and more students participate than ever before in the 29 years of Academic Pentathlon.”
Each event contained a maximum of six students per team. Students were allowed to compete in as many tests as they wished. Teams had been practicing for this event since October.
Saturday’s competition began with the Speech and Literature events. Participants delivered a four-minute prepared speech on the topic of Responsibility, and a two-minute impromptu speech in front a panel of three judges.
Literature students took a test based on the required reading Thunder Cave, by Roland Smith. Participants had 30 minutes to answer 50 questions based on the book, a poem and language skills.
The Super Quiz was conducted immediately following both events. Teams walked into the testing arena to face off in a series of questions on the topic “Islam and Medieval Africa.”
Each Super Quiz team consisted of four to six members answering 15 questions out of 30. The four highest scores were added up to determine the winning team.
The awards ceremony was held immediately following the Super Quiz and lunch. Certificates and pins were handed out to all participating students.
Seventh grade winners included:
Essay: Savannah Bass Dairyland Elementary Gold
Kylie Hill Wilson Middle Silver
Tyler Matyshock Coarsegold Elementary Bronze
Literature: Kylie Farmer Wilson Middle Gold
Lindsay Noble Ranchos Middle Silver
Stephen Reed Sherman Thomas Charter Bronze
Math: Stephen Reed Sherman Thomas Charter Gold
Kylie Farmer Wilson Middle School Silver
Tyler Matyshock Coarsegold Elementary Silver
Emily Nowka Coarsegold Elementary Silver
Isaac Duarte-Villa Thomas Jefferson Middle Bronze
Speech: Sayda Taylor Wasuma School Gold
Islam Sulieman Wilson Middle Silver
Amber Persson Wasuma Elementary Bronze
Eighth grader winners included:
Essay: Leslie Maciel Jack G. Desmond Middle Gold
Brooke Archuleta Wilson Middle Silver
Lauren Wharton Oak Creek Intermediate Bronze
Literature: Holly Hiatt Ranchos Middle Gold
Matthew Gutierrez Thomas Jefferson Middle Silver
Sarah Meeks Wasuma Elementary Silver
Leslie Arevalo Ezequiel Tafoya Alvarado Bronze
Alexia Dahlin Coarsegold Elementary Bronze
Kelsey Montalto Oak Creek Intermediate Bronze
Math: Olivia Mattos Oak Creek Intermediate Gold
Sarah Meeks Wasuma Elementary Gold
Patrick Monreal St. Joachim Gold
Zachary Thach Oak Creek Intermediate Silver
Kelsey Montalto Oak Creek Intermediate Bronze
Speech: Peyton Garner Oak Creek Intermediate Gold
Sarah Meeks Wasuma Elementary Gold
Rubiana Lopez Ezequiel Tafoya Alvarado Silver
Lauren Alexander Ranchos Middle Bronze
(Not all students listed are pictured)
Coarsegold 7th Grade Team Includes: Monique Ades, Eden Hussey, Tyler Matyshock, Emily Nowka, Hunter Palmer, Cale Sweeney, Paige Szabadi. Coaches: Richard Sischo, Robert Jackson, Jules Toggle.
Ranchos 8th Grade Team Includes: Lauren Alexander, Jazper Blancett, Madison Devine, Travin Feramisco, Jameson Frazier, Calissa Haney, Wyatt Harpain, Holly Hiatt, Greyson Hoelzel, Emily Koop, Ashley Morris, Samantha Park, Maddie Person, Aspen Poodry, Corey Pringle, Kaleb Roth, Brandon Sassano, Dane Tynan, Brooke Yang. Coaches: Arris White, Emily Muccianti, Kevin Feramisco, Shellie Roth, Stephanie Alarcon, Joan Forester.
