While the world's best athletes were training for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, many of the area's brightest students were going for the gold in the Academic Decathlon in Los Angeles.

 

A total of 60 teams with 540 students participated in the decathlon sponsored by the Los Angeles County Office of Education.

 

The competition ended with a Super Quiz at USC on Feb. 6. The teens fretted the next week, waiting to hear if they had won any medals.

 

Last year, the Rowland High squad took first place in the Super Quiz. This year, the Raiders were hoping to do even better but they faced local high schools such as Los Altos and Wilson, as well as powerhouse Arcadia.

 

On Feb. 11, the students got their awards at a luncheon