Manteca High had a strong showing in the 33rd annual San Joaquin County Academic Decathlon, finishing second overall during the weekend competition held at the University of the Pacific and Scottish Rite Auditorium.

Tracy High led by the overall top-scoring student Robby Grewall. For his efforts, he received the $1,000 Walter Rathhaus Award. He claimed the Dave Sorgent Winner’s Cup, thus, earning a berth to the Academic Decathlon State Championship in Sacramento in March.

Tracy and Manteca were first and second, respectively in the large school division while Lathrop High was third.

For MHS, every starter received at least one individual medal. Advisor and English teacher Michael McCullough, much to his surprise, was inducted into the SJC AcaDec Hall of Fame.

Tracy, Manteca, and Lathrop were among the 13 schools – a guest school from Santa Clara County also competed – that took part in this year’s SJC Academic Decathlon.

The 2014 theme covered World War I and included an essay, interview, and speech competitions. Objective tests in art, economics, language / literature, math, music, social science, and a high-energy Super Quiz were also part of the two-day event.

One sample of a Super-Quiz question: Before World War I, only four countries has given women the right to vote. All of the following belong to this group except – a.) Norway; b.) Australia; c.) Great Britain; d.) New Zealand; e.) Finland.

MHS took first place in Super Quiz, and most likely knew the correct answer to be c.) Great Britain. Middle College of the Lodi Unified School District – the third-place overall finisher – was second while Tracy placed third.

Individually, Mia Holbrook of MHS took home eight medals while receiving a $500 scholarship by taking first in the Varsity Division. Allyson Paul, also of MHS, earned a $100 scholarship for placing third in the Scholastic Division.

Roman Romero of MHS, in addition, received top honors in the speech competition and was invited to read that same speech to everyone in attendance Saturday at the Scottish Rite Auditorium.