Tyler Ryan is spearheading the Sierra High Academic Decathlon team.

The Chemistry and Physics teacher took over from Jared Rio, who is now the school’s Activities Director.

“It’s been an adjustment,” he said Thursday. “This is a new experience for me and I had to learn how to approach it.”

Ryan has 13 members on this club team, including five back from last year’s inaugural team.

“They’ve helped me,” he said of the returning students. “They know the best way to study (for the Academic Decathlon).”

The 39th annual San Joaquin County Academic Decathlon is Saturday at Lathrop High, 647 Spartan Way.

Sierra will be among the 13 teams in the competition that will take inside the large gym with the Super Quiz at 2 p.m. and the Awards Ceremony at 3:30 – the public is invited to attend both events.

Lathrop High, Manteca High, Delta Middle College, Escalon, Kimball, Lincoln, McNair, Tracy High, Merrill West, Millennium and Mountain House are also in this San Joaquin County Office of Education-sponsored event.

The theme is “In Sickness and in Health: An Exploration in Illness and Wellness.”

The winning team will qualify for the State Academic Decathlon Championship in Sacramento on March 26-29, with all fees being paid via the SJCOE Educational Foundation.

Competition kicked off about a week ago with the interview and speech contests.

Ryan, meanwhile, has met with his young team – included are four freshmen and several newcomers – on a once a week basis, sometimes twice, since beginning of the school year in August.

He’s looking to continue to build here in year two.

“I’m hoping that one day (SHS Academic Decathlon) will go from a club to being an actual class,” Ryan said.

For more information, log on to www.sjcoe.org.