Escalon came away from the recent San Joaquin County Academic Decathlon with some honors this year, including a First Place showing in the Club Division.

“That was against six other schools,” noted coach George Megenney. “We also took home five individual medals.”

Medal winners included Kaylee Weible, Scholastic Division, first place in Speech and first place in Math; Lilliana Koller, Honors Division, third place in Math and third place in Speech; and Mitzy Saucedo, Honors Division, third place in Interview.

The team had seven members on the starting team, in addition to six alternates that took part in the competition on Saturday, Feb. 6.

“It was a great opportunity to try new things, it got me out of my comfort zone,” explained alternate Lorena Peralta, an EHS sophomore. “It was also good experience for AP testing, everything was so fast.”

The sophomore was happy she took part in the event and said she would definitely return next year to the AcaDec arena.

“I’m happy to say we did well this year,” added coach Megenney, pleased that some of the starting team brought home medals and that the team as a whole garnered a first place award for their efforts.

Megenney was honored as well, named to the San Joaquin County ‘Hall of Fame’ for individual support and contributions of time and effort to the Academic Decathlon program. Three people are inducted per year, said Megenney, and he was among the trio to 2016 inductees.

Representing Escalon as starters this year were Lilliana Koller, Maia Zack and Zoe Brown, Honors; Mitzy Saucedo, Kaylee Weible, Scholastic; Ashley Nicholas, Mariana Alvarado, Varsity. Alternates attending and competing were Christian Rodriguez, Brooke Anderson, Lorena Peralta, Juli Avila, Matthew Lima and Roxana Morales.