It was déjà vu all over again, as for the second year in a row Chaffey High School defeated its district rival Rancho Cucamonga to claim its record seventh consecutive San Bernardino County Academic Decathlon championship.
What is new about the achievement is that both schools from the Chaffey Joint Union High School District topped 50,000 points in the competition with Chaffey setting a record with 52,425.5 points. It broke its own record it set in 2016. Meanwhile, Rancho Cucamonga (50,664.3 points) became the only other team in the 35 years of the competition to top 50,000 points.
With the county title, Chaffey, which is coached by Steve Mercado, advances to the state Academic Decathlon competition in Sacramento on March 23-24. Rancho Cucamonga and third-place Redlands (45,982.4) also qualified for state, it was announced at tonight’s banquet for the competition. Rancho Cucamonga has qualified for state for three consecutive years, and Redlands will be making its fourth consecutive trip to state.
The other schools finishing in the top five in the varsity county competition were Don Lugo from Chino Valley Unified with 40,896.7 points and Redlands East Valley with 39,587.8 points.
Now, Chaffey has won nine of the past 10 county titles with Mercado – and finished first or second in the competition for 14 consecutive years for the most dominating streak in the history of the competition. With nine titles, Chaffey still trails Redlands’ record of 13 titles overall in the event.
In this year’s county competition, there were 41 teams representing 25 high schools that participated. Teams, as well as about 400 individuals that participated in the competition, were recognized with certificates, trophies and gold, silver or bronze medals at the awards ceremony that was held at the National Orange Show’s Valencia Room.
The academic competition took place on two consecutive Saturdays on Jan. 27 and Feb. 3 at Redlands East Valley High School. The scholastic contest pitted students against one another in 10 subject areas.
Teams were composed of nine students, three each from grade point average categories of “A” (Honors), “B” (Scholastic) and “C” (Varsity). There were written tests in the areas of math, economics, science, language/literature, music, art and social science. Students also wrote an essay, faced a panel of interviewers and gave impromptu and prepared speeches.
Past County Academic Decathlon winners: 2016-17 Chaffey, 2015-16 Chaffey, 2014-15 Chaffey, 2013-14 Chaffey, 2012-13 Chaffey, 2011-12 Chaffey, 2010-11 Redlands, 2009-10 Chaffey, 2008-09 Chaffey, 2007-08 Redlands, 2006-07 Redlands, 2005-06 Redlands, 2004-05 Redlands, 2003-04 Redlands East Valley, 2002-03 Redlands, 2001-02 Redlands, 2000-01 Etiwanda, 1999-00 Etiwanda, 1998-99 Redlands, 1997-98 Redlands, 1996-97 Etiwanda, 1995-96 Redlands, 1994-95 Colton, 1993-94 Redlands, 1992-93 Fontana, 1991-92 Alta Loma, 1990-91 Redlands, 1989-90 San Bernardino, 1988-89 San Bernardino, 1987-88 Fontana, 1986-87 San Bernardino, 1985-86 Etiwanda, 1984-85 Upland, and 1983-84 Redlands.