There’s a new winner of Riverside County’s Academic Decathlon.
The Western Center Academy, a charter school in Hemet, on Saturday, Feb. 4, broke Elsinore High School’s six-year winning streak to claim the 2023 crown.
The Wildomar school, a perennial powerhouse, finished second. Corona High School came in third.
The academy, housed at the Western Science Center near Diamond Valley Lake and a part of the Hemet Unified School District, will now head to state competition. It was the charter school’s first decathlon victory, a Riverside County Office of Education news release states.
Corona High School’s Andrew Murakami, Lara Randhawa and Aisha Randhawa compete Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, in the Super Quiz at the Riverside County Academic Decathlon in Moreno Valley. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Hemet High School’s Gema Rubalcava and Ben Valenzuela celebrate Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, during the Super Quiz part of the Riverside County Academic Decathlon at Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Elsinore High School’s Aaron Murillo spins the helix on his and Katelyn Klopp’s cap after earning points Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, in the Super Quiz at the Riverside County Academic Decathlon in Moreno Valley. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Hemet High School supporters Rachel, Lauren, Lynette Valenzuela and Ross Valenzuela applaud Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, during the Super Quiz at the Riverside County Academic Decathlon in Moreno Valley. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Hemet High School students make a tunnel to cheer Gema Rubalcava after her participation in the Super Quiz on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, at the Riverside County Academic Decathlon in Moreno Valley. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Canyon Springs High School student Shane Smith reacts Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, during the Super Quiz part of the Riverside County Academic Decathlon. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Corona High School’s Ricardo Sandoval and George Escalante play Rock, Paper, Scissors on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, during the Super Quiz portion of the Riverside County Academic Decathlon in Moreno Valley. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Students participate Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, in the Super Quiz portion of the Riverside County Academic Decathlon at Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Elsinore High School’s Juleyssy Barrios and Ginmarco Navarro react Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, during the Super Quiz portion of the Riverside County Academic Decathlon at Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Students at Great Oak High School in Temecula, from left, Romun Gonzales, Parker McCoy and Andrew Arcinas react after getting three of their 22 points during the Super Quiz portion of the Riverside County Academic Decathlon at Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Students at the Western Center Academy in Hemet, Gavin Shumaker, Sienna Scott and Tatiyana Martin, smile after getting three points during the Super Quiz at the 40th Annual Riverside County Academic Decathlon at Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
The academy with a science focus fielded two teams, a blue and green squad. The blue team finished on top.
The competition started Jan. 18 and ended with the Super Quiz at Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley on Saturday. The county’s 40th annual event had the theme of “The American Revolution and the New Nation.” It featured nearly 100 high school students.
The quiz was staged in front of a live audience unlike last year’s virtual event. Leading to the Super Quiz, contestants flexed their skills in essay, speech and other subjects.
Eight schools from seven school districts competed. In addition to the top three finishers, participants included Beaumont High School, Canyon Springs High School, Great Oak High School in Temecula, Hemet High School and Valley View High School in Moreno Valley.
As county champion, the Western Center Academy will move to the California Academic Decathlon in Santa Clara on March 25.
The state winner will advance to the U.S. Academic Decathlon competition in Texas in late April.