MUSD Academic Decathletes Shine at County Competition

At the 45th Annual San Joaquin County Academic Decathlon, four of Manteca Unified’s comprehensive high schools — Sierra High, Lathrop High, Manteca High, and Weston Ranch High — delivered an impressive showing, earning top finishes, individual championships, and medals across all divisions.

This annual competition brings together students from 13 high schools across the county to compete in art, economics, literature, mathematics, music, science, and social science. This year’s theme, The Roaring Twenties, tested students’ knowledge, preparation, and teamwork throughout a multi-week process that included essays, interviews, speeches, objective exams and a high-energy Super Quiz.

Each nine-member team competes in three categories based on grade point average: Honors (3.75-4.0), Scholastic (3.0-3.74), and Varsity (0.0-2.99). Schools also compete in three overall divisions: Division I teams participate as a class, Division II teams compete as a club, and Division II represents a school’s second team, which may be comprised of either a class or a club. The top three students in each GPA category receive medals, certificates, and scholarships.

Sierra High School led with an impressive 72 medals, including 28 gold, 16 silver, and 28 bronze, earning third place in Division I and II and second place in Division III. Notably, Sierra finished first among comprehensive high schools, with the two schools ahead specialising in early college programs, marking a major milestone for the Timberwolves’ Academic Decathlon program.

Among the teams’ highlights was Athrv Mishra, recognized as one of the competition’s top-scoring athletes and the recipient of a $500 SJCOE Educational Foundation award. Sierra’s Division II competitors also posted strong finishes with Shlok Banerjee earning first and Veeksha Sudireddy earning second in the Scholastic and Varshith Gude earning third in the Honors.

Lathrop High secured fifth place in Division I, snagging 22 individual medals, with an especially strong performance in Essay. Overall, eight LHS students earned medals in Essay – four gold, one silver, three bronze – underscoring the strength and writing excellence within the Spartans’ program.

Manteca High decathletes made their mark across divisions, highlighted by Mohamed Manser earning first place overall in the Division II Varsity category, in addition to his other multiple subject-area medals. As a team, MHS students brought home 25 top-three finishes — Division II Honors (3), Division II Scholastic (5), Division II Varsity (7), Division III Honors (3), Division III Scholastic (1), Division III Varsity (6) — demonstrating the academic depth of the Buffaloes’ competitors.

Multiple medalists from Weston Ranch High were celebrated, with sophomore Jacob Brooks leading the team with five Division II medals, including gold in Literature. The Cougars also secured top honors in the Super Quiz, emphasizing the program’s collaborative strength and academic teamwork.

These collaborative accomplishments reflect a district-wide commitment to academic excellence and the meaningful support provided by Academic Decathlon coaches, teachers and site leaders across our campuses.

We are incredibly proud of all our Academic Decathlon participants and the effort and determination they demonstrated throughout the competition.