Frontier High School named Academic Decathlon champs, will represent Kern County in state championships next month

Frontier High School received the Claude W. Richardson perpetual trophy as the overall team winner of the 41st annual Kern County Academic Decathlon during a virtual award ceremony held on February 9. Nearly 200 students from 12 high schools participated. Frontier High School will represent Kern County in the California Academic Decathlon scheduled for next month in Sacramento.

Rounding out the top eight teams were:

Second place – Arvin High School

Third place – Stockdale High School

Fourth place – West High School

Fifth place – Wasco High School

Sixth place – Liberty High School

Seventh place – California City High School

Eighth place – Highland High School

Academic Decathlon is made up of 10 events including Art, Economics, Essay, Interview, Language and Literature, Mathematics, Music, Science, Social Science and Speech. A Super Quiz is also traditionally conducted, however, due to COVID-19 it was cancelled this year.

Each school’s team consisted of a maximum of nine students: three “A” (honor), three “B” (scholastic) and three “C” (varsity) entrants. They competed against other students in the same divisions. The team compiling the most points captured first place. Individual medals were also awarded to first, second and third place finishers in each category and division.

Overall individual top scores in this year’s Academic Decathlon went to:

Honors Division

1st place – Lucas Bautista,

Arvin High School

2nd place – Justin Mugugat,

Stockdale High School

3rd place – Alessandra Ela,

Arvin High School

Scholastic Division

1st place – Joshua Holland,

Frontier High School

2nd place – Nykolas Kidd,

Frontier High School

3rd place – Brian Escutia,

Arvin High School

Varsity Division

1st place – Abigail Uribe,

Arvin High School

2nd place – Jahazariel Constable,

West High School

3rd place – Jaden Rivas,

Frontier High School

Additionally, the Academic Decathlon Foundation Board awarded two one-time scholarships in the amount of $250 and an annual award in the amount of $1,000 to the following seniors:

$250 – Audrey Smith, Stockdale High School

$250 – Lucas Bautista, Arvin High School

$1,000 – Diego Garcia, Arvin High School