Members of the award-winning Oakdale High School Academic Decathlon team will get back to competing later this month.

The team, which extended its winning streak at the county level to four straight years by claiming the title at the local event on Jan. 25, will represent Stanislaus County at the 2025 California Academic Decathlon State Championship, set for March 21 through 23 at the Santa Clara Marriott in Santa Clara.

The nine competing team members for Oakdale have continued to work and study, as they prepare for the statewide event.

This annual competition will bring together over 450 California high school students to compete in the rigorous academic showdown surrounding the overall theme of Our Changing Climate. The winner of this year’s competition will represent California at the 2025 United States Academic Decathlon National Competition in Des Moines, Iowa from May 1 through 3, 2025 and will defend California’s 22 consecutive national titles.

The Academic Decathlon, founded in 1968 by Dr. Robert Peterson in Orange County, California, expanded nationally in 1981. It is a 10-event competition modeled after the Olympics to celebrate academic excellence and teamwork. Students from diverse achievement levels compete in tests spanning Art, Music, Language and Literature, Mathematics, Economics, Science, and Social Science. Students must also write an essay, deliver a prepared and impromptu speech, and participate in an interview.

“We’re excited to see these young ‘athletes of the mind’ tackle the overall theme of Our Changing Climate while building confidence and camaraderie,” said Ken Scarberry, Executive Director of the California Academic Decathlon Association. “This event not only showcases academic talent, but also prepares students for future careers.”

Ready to represent Oakdale at the state level next weekend in Santa Clara are Honors category competitors (GPA of 3.80 to 4.00) Joseph Yakligian, Brenna Franca and Iyska Rangel; Scholastic competitors (3.20 to 3.79 GPA) Daniella Guido, Cristian Cornejo Plascencia and Nadiah Longoria Gonzalez; and Varsity competitors (3.19 and below) Evelyn Acker, Jason Romayor and Perla Esquivel Plascencia.

At the 45th annual Stanislaus County Academic Decathlon, Oakdale took first place honors overall, with Hughson in second place and Modesto High finishing third. Oakdale was also the Super Quiz champion.