Hilo High sixth in U.S. in academic contest
By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau
HILO, Hawai'i — Hilo High School cracked the top 10 at the National Academic Decathlon last month in Anchorage, Alaska.
Hugh Clark • The Honolulu Advertiser
The Hilo team finished sixth among 55 teams. Last year, the Big Island students finished 13th, which was their best showing.
Hilo High's academic team, front row from left: William Gathright, Jason West, Brian Cama and Tien Chih; back row from left, Isaac Robinson, William Williams and Lincoln Uyeda.
El Camino Real of California was this year's winner.
Team members compete in three divisions: honors, for students with a 3.75 grade-point average or better; scholastic, 3.0 to 3.749 GPA; and varsity, under 3.0 GPA.
The Hilo High team was led by varsity participant Tien Chih, who claimed five individual medals, including golds in economics, language and literature. He won a sixth medal for finishing second in his division, also earning a $750 scholarship. Hilo's other medal winners were Isaac Robinson, who won gold in scholastic essay, and Matthew Hara, a bronze winner in varsity mathematics.
Math coach Dane Nelson said team members spent 300 hours training as a team and in individual preparation.
"We know we are prepared for college," said team member William Williams, who will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Six of the eight Hilo team members are headed to Mainland colleges this fall. Along with Chih, Williams, Hara and Robinson, the others are William Gathright and Jaron West. Freshman Brian Cama and junior Lincoln Uyeda will be left to carry on a strong tradition.
