Amanda Wikoff
Sandpoint High School held an Academic Decathlon meet against Wallace and Priest River in the auditorium Saturday, Jan. 9. Sandpoint students took first place in all twelve categories and according to Dana Stockman, Sandpoint’s Academic Decathlon advisor, Sandpoint took home ninety-seven of the one hundred twenty-three medals awarded.

Decathlon categories included subjects from art and music to mathematics and speech, among quite a few others.

Though Sandpoint did well against Priest River and Wallace, the scores may not be indicative of how well the team will do at districts or regionals. Sandpoint decathletes will compete in a division against larger schools, which will up the difficulty. Mackenzie Wolfe, a team co-captain, still seems confident they will do well. According to Wolfe, Wallace and Priest River have less funding for their Academic Decathlon program, so they don’t have access to the study resources that Sandpoint decathletes do.

In reference to the upcoming regional competitions, Wolfe said, “I feel like I have one big competitor. Renaissance just got a new coach, so we’re not sure how they’re going to do, but they’re still a competitor. And Sugar Salem is also big competition on the district.”

The Academic Decathlon’s regional meet is February 13th and from there five students from each division will go to state, which will be held in Moscow, Idaho on March 11 and 12.