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Indian Hills Academic Decathlon Team Secures Second Place; Advances to State Finals

The Indian Hills High School community is celebrating a monumental achievement following the Academic Decathlon team’s performance at the Region II Competition. The team earned a Second Place finish, an impressive feat that has officially advanced them to the State Finals, scheduled to take place at Westwood Regional High School on February 28th.

The delegation demonstrated its collective strength early in the event, clinching First Place in the Super Quiz event. This victory was a total team effort from the regular lineup, which included Alexander Noerr (captain and MVP), Matthew Khanlian, Daphne Bergel, Zachary Brothers, Ryleigh Burchell, Mark Havel, Paul Vitolo, Angelina Dominguez, and Noah Becker.

Individual excellence was also on full display during the Awards Ceremony, with several students bringing home multiple honors:

  • Alexander Noerr (Honors Division): Earned the team MVP award along with a Gold in Interview; Silvers in Literature and Music; and Bronzes in Art and Social Science.
  • Zachary Brothers (Scholastic Division): Recognized as the highest Scholastic scorer on the team and the second-highest in the entire region. He earned Golds in Speech and Science; a Silver in Economics; a Bronze in Music; and an Honorable Mention in Art.
  • Angelina Dominguez (Varsity Division): Achieved the highest Varsity score for the team, winning a Gold in Literature; Bronzes in Art, Music, and Interview; and an Honorable Mention in Speech.
  • Matthew Khanlian (Honors Division): Named the highest Honors scorer for the team, earning a Silver in Interview and Bronzes in Music, Science, and Social Science.
  • Jia Yi Li (Honors Alternate): Secured a Gold in Social Science; a Silver in Science; and Bronzes in Economics and Literature.

Other medalists included Daphne Bergel (Silver, Speech) who delivered the highest scoring prepared speech in Region II about John F. Kennedy and political courage. Daphne was invited to recite it at the awards ceremony.  Mark Havel (Silvers, Interview and Speech), Paul Vitolo (Silver, Speech; Bronze, Interview), Ryleigh Burchell (Bronze, Interview; Honorable Mention, Speech), and Noah Becker (Bronzes, Literature and Social Science). Alternates Katelyn Douma (Silvers, Art and Music), Matthew Nocella (Silver, Social Science), Seulgi Park (Bronze, Social Science), and Liam Matusevich (Honorable Mention, Science) also made significant contributions.

The team’s success is a testament to their hard work since the fall and the dedicated guidance of coaches Michael Paravati and Meredith McCambley.