By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau
HILO, Hawai‘i — For a ninth consecutive year, Hilo High School led the state in the Academic Decathlon, a competition among eight-student teams.
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| The Vikings team advancing to the national academic competition: From left, Isaac Robinson, Lincoln Uyeda, William Williams, Matthew Hara, Brian Cama, Tien Chih, William Gathright, Jaron West. |
Veteran coach and school guidance counselor Charlene Masuhara said Hilo captured 22 of 30 gold medals offered in 10 subject areas at the state finals last weekend on O‘ahu.
The Vikings will go on to the national competition in Anchorage, Alaska. They hope to break into the top 10 for the first time after finishing 13th last year in San Antonio.
What separates Hilo High from the rest of the state?
"Dedication," Masuhara said, noting that the team averaged 12 hours a week in preparation since August.
Besides Masuhara, the coaches are Dane Nelson and Aileen Correa.
Competition includes written tests and essays, interviews by judges, speeches and a "Super Quiz" requiring written as well as oral responses.
There are three divisions: honors for students with a grade-point average of 3.75 or better, scholastic for 3.0 to 3.74, and varsity for 2.9 to 3.09.
Led by varsity-division scholar Tien Chih, Hilo nailed 64 medals. Chih, in his third year of competition, earned 10 medals, including six golds.
Other team members are seniors William Williams, Jaron West, Matthew Hara, William Gathright and Isaac Robinson, junior Lincoln Uyeda and freshman Brian Cama.
The Vikings swept the art and speech categories in all three divisions. Chih won in math, economics, art, science, music and language-literature.
The team is raising money for its Alaska trip. Tax-deductible donations may be sent to Hilo High, 556 Waianuenue Ave., Hilo, HI 96720.
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