Valencia High School Academic Decathlon Team Excels at State Competition with Top-Tier Finish

Valencia High School’s Academic Decathlon team delivered an exceptional performance at the California Academic Decathlon State Competition, held March 20–22 in Santa Clara. Competing against top teams from across the state, Valencia earned second place in Division II, secured second place in the Super Quiz, and placed 12th overall. This achievement positions the team among the top 40 to 50 programs nationwide and reflects one of the highest honors awarded at the competition, finishing just behind champion Folsom High School.

Rooted in Orange County, the Academic Decathlon is a rigorous, multidisciplinary competition that challenges teams of nine students across ten subject areas, including mathematics, literature, economics, and science. In addition to completing a series of written assessments, participants engage in formal interviews, deliver both prepared and impromptu speeches, and compete in the high-energy Super Quiz Relay—a collaborative event that highlights both academic knowledge and team dynamics. The 2026 competition theme, “The Roaring Twenties,” provided a rich historical framework for study and analysis.

Valencia High School students demonstrated outstanding individual and team accomplishments. Amy Sun delivered a remarkable performance, earning multiple perfect scores and achieving an overall score of 8,800—the highest recorded by her coach. She ranked as the second-highest scoring competitor in Division II and was awarded the STEAM Scholarship for attaining perfect scores in both art and science. Lynzie Lim also distinguished herself by earning medals in nearly every subject area and surpassing 8,000 points at the Scholastic level, a notable academic achievement.

Additional team members, including Aashna Shah, Mateo Mestaz, Nethra Rajkumar, Leonardo Nguyen, Ahnsh Shah, Ian Lee, and Nikil Rajkumar, contributed to the team’s overall success by earning an array of medals across multiple disciplines. A standout performance from a freshman competitor proved pivotal in securing the team’s Super Quiz distinction.

Across all divisions, Orange County teams demonstrated strong competitiveness, reinforcing the region’s longstanding tradition of excellence in Academic Decathlon. According to Kristin Rigby, Coordinator of Academic Events and Recognition Programs at the Orange County Department of Education, the competition extends beyond academic performance.

“Academic Decathlon is about so much more than the final scores,” Rigby noted. “Students dedicate months to preparation, collaboration, and skill development that will serve them well beyond the competition. It is incredibly rewarding to see Orange County teams excel at the state level and advance to the national stage.” Way to go, Tigers!