The HPHS Academic Decathlon team faced 40 of the best teams in Texas and won its sixth consecutive Medium School Division State Championship Feb. 26 in San Antonio.
In the individual All-Around event:
- Senior Karina Zaydler won gold in the Scholastic division.
- Junior Elizabeth Chen and senior Jasper Chen finished second in the Honors and Varsity divisions, respectively.
- Freshman Anna Qian and senior Jack Jiang finished third overall in their divisions.
Team members Justine Choi, Catherine Lu, Ivy Mazzucchi, and Duke Stockton all contributed to the win. For their outstanding performance, the team was awarded a total of $18,250 in scholarships.
"The 2022 Highland Park High School Academic Decathlon team is the latest addition to our school’s longstanding tradition of excellence," HPHS Principal Jeremy Gilbert said. "This group of incredible students led by our dedicated coaches, David Alvarado and Scott Fortier, are a prime example of what is possible when talented students outwork their competition. I have the utmost respect for the way our team prepares for each event and how well they represent our school. Their plaid sweater vests alongside this year’s state championship trophy is certainly a highlight of this school year."