students running

Ponderosa Strikes Gold at the El Dorado County Academic Decathlon

08:25 AM - February 07, 2023

Saturday, February 4 marked the conclusion of this year’s El Dorado County Academic Decathlon, with one team continuing its journey to the state competition in March: Ponderosa High School. This is the second year in a row they have won the regional competition while competing against El Dorado, Oak Ridge, and Union Mine high schools. They also won the Super Quiz Relay. Ponderosa coach, Joseph Beatty, was proud to lead the team to another victory. “Ponderosa’s Academic Decathlon team has been working tirelessly the entire school year toward this competition, and their win on Saturday just proves their incredible dedication, intelligence, and unity as a team. I am so proud of and impressed by this group of brilliant young leaders!” shared Beatty.

Decathletes and coaches were eager to partake in this year’s in-person event, as it’s been hosted virtually for the past two years. With change comes innovation, and this year, El Dorado County was one of the few counties in the state to administer in-person, objective testing on Chromebooks. This efficient method replaced printed packets and scantrons, saving time and printing costs.

Decathletes have been studying the theme The American Revolution since last summer in preparation for taking tests in 10 different subjects. They study during lunch, flex periods, and outside of school, with coaches taking on this extra challenge in addition to their regular teaching schedule. Coaches included David Conrad for El Dorado, Jeff Hassian for Oak Ridge, Joseph Beatty for Ponderosa, and Alyssa Tkach for Union Mine. Decathletes and coaches put a lot of time, hard work, and dedication into studying and competing.

The exciting day also saw many community volunteers and presenters, as well as each school’s principal. Kiwanis Club of Placerville provided a hamburger lunch, and guest presenters included El Dorado Union High School District Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services Chris Moore, Sheriff Jeff Leikauf, Assessor Jon DeVille, and Supervisor Wendy Thomas. All were impressed with the knowledge and hard work of the decathletes.

Dr. Ed Manansala, El Dorado County Superintendent of Schools, noted “Today the El Dorado County decathletes displayed exemplary discipline, intelligence, and teamwork. A special thank you to the coaches, community volunteers, and EDCOE team members who made this event possible. This community event celebrates the best of education in El Dorado County!"

Winners included:

Social Science 

Varsity

  • Bronze – Tie: Natalie Jaussaud (Ponderosa), Dannika Torres (Ponderosa), and Tyler Buszkiewicz (El Dorado)
  • Silver – Celia Aquilar (Union Mine)
  • Gold – Shivani Padiyar (Oak Ridge)

Scholastic

  • Bronze – Tie: Jenna Cobb (El Dorado) and Richard Friedland (El Dorado)
  • Silver – Ava Miller (Oak Ridge)
  • Gold – Chantilly Lamson (Oak Ridge)

Honors

  • Bronze – Alexander Mayfield (Ponderosa)
  • Silver – Zachary Hoover (Ponderosa)
  • Gold – Karan Derebail (Ponderosa)

Science 

Varsity

  • Bronze — Tie: Emily Roblero Morales (El Dorado) and David Warden (Union Mine)
  • Silver – Tie: Dannika Torres (Ponderosa) and Kathryn Sarlatte (El Dorado)
  • Gold – Tyler Buskiewicz (El Dorado)

Scholastic

  • Bronze – Tie: Ava Miller (Oak Ridge) and Lorenzo Benitez (Union Mine)
  • Silver – Jackson Money (Ponderosa)
  • Gold – Olivia Alonso (Ponderosa)

Honors

  • Bronze – Tie: Jack Reinhart (Union Mine) and Kai Nicita (El Dorado)
  • Silver – Karan Derebail (Ponderosa)
  • Gold – Summer Dixon (Oak Ridge)

Math 

Varsity

  • Bronze – Tie: Natalie Jaussaud (Ponderosa) and Dannika Torres (Ponderosa)
  • Silver – Nishawn Birak (Oak Ridge)
  • Gold – Emily Roblero Morales (El Dorado)

Scholastic

  • Bronze – Tie: Lorenzo Benitez (Union Mine), Olivia Alonso (Ponderosa), and Jenna Cobb (El Dorado)
  • Silver – Jackson Money (Ponderosa)
  • Gold – Richard Friedland (El Dorado) and Souradeep Mazumder (Oak Ridge)

Honors

  • Bronze – Summer Dixon (Oak Ridge)
  • Silver – Zachary Hoover (Ponderosa)
  • Gold – Karan Derebail (Ponderosa)

Music

Varsity

  • Bronze – David Warden (Union Mine)
  • Silver – Alex Prok (Oak Ridge)
  • Gold – Kathryn Sarlatte (El Dorado)

Scholastic

  • Bronze – Tie: Matthew Burke (El Dorado) and Jenna Cobb (El Dorado)
  • Silver – Chantilly Lamson (Oak Ridge)
  • Gold – Ava Miller (Oak Ridge)

Honors

  • Bronze – Alexander Mayfield (Ponderosa)
  • Silver – Tie: Zachary Hoover (Ponderosa) and Summer Dixon (Oak Ridge)
  • Gold – Karan Derebail (Ponderosa)

Economics

Varsity

  • Bronze – Dannika Torres (Ponderosa)
  • Silver – Natalie Jassaud (Ponderosa)
  • Gold – Kathryn Sarlatte (El Dorado)

Scholastic

  • Bronze – Tie: Ava Miller (Oak Ridge) and Lorenzo Benitez (Union Mine)
  • Silver – Sean Grant (El Dorado) and Souradeep Mazumder (Oak Ridge)
  • Gold – Olivia Alonso (Ponderosa)

Honors

  • Bronze – Obsidian Ek (Oak Ridge)
  • Silver – Summer Dixon (Oak Ridge)
  • Gold – Karan Derebail (Ponderosa)

Literature   

Varsity

  • Bronze – Tie: Shivani Padiyar (Oak Ridge) and David Warden (Union Mine)
  • Silver – Dannika Torres (Ponderosa)
  • Gold – Kathryn Sarlatte (El Dorado)

Scholastic

  • Bronze – Tie: Chantilly Lamson (Oak Ridge) and Richard Friedland (El Dorado)
  • Silver – Olivia Alonso (Ponderosa)
  • Gold – Lorenzo Benitez (Union Mine)

Honors

  • Bronze – Natalie Salter (Ponderosa)
  • Silver – Summer Dixon (Oak Ridge)
  • Gold – Kathryn Fichtner (Ponderosa)

Art

Varsity

  • Bronze – Tie: Dannika Torres (Ponderosa) and Alex Prok (Oak Ridge)
  • Silver – Shivani Padiyar (Oak Ridge)
  • Gold – Kathryn Sarlette  (El Dorado)

Scholastic

  • Bronze – Olivia Alonso (Ponderosa) and Ava Miller (Oak Ridge)
  • Silver – Jackson Money (Ponderosa)
  • Gold – Jenna Cobb (El Dorado)

Honors

  • Bronze – Summer Dixon (Oak Ridge)
  • Silver – Natalie Salter (Ponderosa)
  • Gold – Karan Derebail (Ponderosa)

Interview

Varsity

  • Bronze – Kathryn Sarlatte (El Dorado)
  • Silver – Shivani Padiyar (Oak Ridge)
  • Gold – Nishawn Birak (Oak Ridge)

Scholastic

  • Bronze – Lorenzo Benitez (Union Mine)
  • Silver – Chantilly Lamson (Oak Ridge)
  • Gold – Kalyssa Alexander (Ponderosa)

Honors

  • Bronze – Jason Ni (Oak Ridge)
  • Silver – Summer Dixon (Oak Ridge)
  • Gold – Carol Chen (Oak Ridge)

Speech

Varsity

  • Bronze – Emily Roblero Morales (El Dorado)
  • Silver – Kathryn Sarlatte (El Dorado)
  • Gold – Shivani Padiyar (Oak Ridge)

Scholastic

  • Bronze – Kalyssa Alexander (Ponderosa)
  • Silver – Olivia Alonso (Ponderosa)
  • Gold – Navaeh Ingram (Union Mine)

Honors

  • Bronze – Jake Faulkner (Union Mine)
  • Silver – Benjamin Rorden (Union Mine)
  • Gold – Summer Dixon (Oak Ridge)

Essay

Varsity

  • Bronze – Alex Prok (Oak Ridge)
  • Silver – Kathryn Sarlatte (El Dorado)
  • Gold – Shivani Padiyar (Oak Ridge)

Scholastic

  • Bronze – Olivia Alonso (Ponderosa)
  • Silver – Naveah Ingram (Union Mine)
  • Gold – Chantilly Lamson (Oak Ridge)

Honors

  • Bronze – Ethan Pham (Oak Ridge)
  • Silver – Summer Dixon (Oak Ridge)
  • Gold – Karan Derebail (Ponderosa)

Highest Scoring Decathletes

Bronze – Zachary Hoover (Ponderosa)

Silver – Summer Dixon (Oak Ridge)

Gold – Karan Derebail (Ponderosa)

Back Back