El Camino Real triumphs at state Academic Decathlon

Jose Apolaya of El Camino Real Charter High School, middle, reacts with teammates after the Woodland Hills campus was named winner of the state Academic Decathlon in Sacramento. Granada Hills Charter High, the 2011-13 state and national champion, placed second and John Marshall High School third. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

March 23, 2014 4:13 PM PT

El Camino Real Charter High School won the state’s 2014 Academic Decathlon in Sacramento over the weekend and a chance to compete for the national title in Honolulu next month. The Woodland Hills school beat out 64 other teams. Granada Hills Charter High, the 2011-13 state and national champion,took second place and John Marshall High School placed third.

Melissa Cheng, right, hugs teammate Neeleem Sheikh after El Camino Real’s victory in the state Academic Decathlon. The school last won the state and national competition in 2010. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Stephanie Franklin, in her sixth year as El Camino Real’s coach, acknowledges the cheers after it was announced her team had tied for first place in the Super Quiz portion of the state Academic Decathlon. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Stacee Smith of Bella Vista High School in Sacramento, at center in the blue dress, reacts after learning she had won first place in the Division II Speech category at the state Academic Decathlon. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Members of the Beverly Hills academic decathlon team huddle backstage before the Super Quiz portion of the decathlon. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Dressed in aviator gear, Burbank coaches Valerie Beidelman and Vincent Bolante photograph decathletes and their parents during the awards ceremony. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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El Camino Real triumphs at state Academic Decathlon

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