N.B. Eisenhower ends Waukesha West dynasty in academic competition

School Zone

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Jan. 16, 2012
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By Erin Richards of the Journal Sentinel

Jan. 16, 2012 0

For the first time in about a decade, the powerhouse Academic Decathlon team at Waukesha West High School has lost its long-time reign over its local rivals.

Instead, it was New Berlin Eisenhower High School's Academic Decathlon team that took first place in the regional competition on Friday, Jan. 13, with West coming in second, according to official results released Monday by Wisconsin Academic Decathlon.

Sixty teams advanced from November's local competitions to compete at five regional sites around the state on Friday. Eisenhower and West are among the 20 teams that will advance to the state competition on March 15 and 16 in Wisconsin Dells.

Waukesha West's long-time Academic Decathlon coach, veteran English teacher Duane Stein, retired with a wave of other teachers around the state at the end of the 2010-'11 school year. Under Stein, West won its regional competition and the state competition for at least 10 years in a row.

Eisenhower has often come in second to West, co-coach Erik Fountain said Monday. He said Eisenhower's team had a lot of returning students this year and put in a strong showing in all the subjects. 

"This is the most dedicated team we've ever had," Fountain said. 

Academic Decathlon is a high school competition that involves students from all grade levels, split into three groups based on their GPA. Students then take tests in subjects such as math, science, economics and art, and they also write an essay. Schools aim to get the highest combined score from all their competitors in all the subjects.

The Wisconsin team that wins the state championship will qualify to attend the U.S. Academic Decathlon national competition in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on April 25-28.

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About Erin Richards

Erin Richards covers K-12 education in urban and suburban Milwaukee, as well as state politics related to education issues.

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