March 14 wasn't just any Saturday - at least not at the L.A. Sports Arena where between three and four thousand gathered for the Los Angeles Archdiocesan Academic Junior High Decathlon (AJHD).

The daylong event drew 100 schools to compete in the event which pitted teams of 10 students against one another. These 1,000 intellectually elite were drilled with questions in areas of English, literature, math, science, religion, social studies and current events, plus a logic quiz and grand finale "Super Quiz." From the moment the first question was posed, the energy was palpable: students drawing on endless hours of studying to discern the correct answers, the crowd of 3,000 parents and supporters loudly cheering them on, and the anxious anticipation of the test results.

Medals for those taking first-through-tenth place in each event category were awarded. The "Overall" title was earned by St. Mel School in Woodland Hills, whose team will join winning school teams from other California dioceses to compete in a state championship in early May.

"Students exposed in academic competitions tend to do better in school," said Committee Chair Jo Solomonson, principal of St. Stephen Martyr School in Monterey Park. "They are the critical and reflective thinkers, the problem solvers and the innovators of tomorrow."

Moreover, as Barbara Moldavon, coach of the 2008 winning team, Cathedral Chapel, stated: "There are no losers in decathlon. Every student, every parent, every coach, and every school is better for having been a part of it."

The 20th anniversary decathlon is scheduled March 6, 2009.

-Karen Chacon