Wasuma Elementary School won the 8th grade competition at the Madera County Academic Pentathlon held March 8 and 16.

More than 350 students participated in this year’s five-event academic competition. Math and essay tests were held on March 8 at the State Center Community College District’s Madera Center and literature, speech and super quiz were held March 16 at Ranchos Middle School.

Ranchos Middle School defended their title and won the 7th grade Academic Pentathlon.

Oak Creek Intermediate School came in second place in the 7th grade competition and Ranchos Middle School placed second in the 8th grade competition. Coarsegold Elementary School came in third in the 7th grade competition and Madera’s Thomas Jefferson Middle School placed third in the 8th grade competition.

Ranchos Middle School’s 7th grade team placed first in the Super Quiz and Thomas Jefferson’s 8th grade teams placed first in the super quiz. Oak Creek Intermediate School placed second in the 7th grade super quiz competition and Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School placed third. Ranchos Middle School placed second in the 8th grade competition with Sherman Thomas Charter School coming in third in the competition.

“What a wonderful day for our students to showcase their talents,” said Cyndy Dolph, Madera County Office of Education associate superintendent said. “The energy level was high and the competition stiff throughout all final events.”

Each event contained a maximum of six students per team. Students were allowed to compete in as many tests as they wished. Teams had been practicing for this event since October.

Saturday’s competition began with the speech and literature events. Participants delivered a four-minute prepared speech on the topic of responsibility and a two-minute impromptu speech in front a panel of three judges.

Literature students took a test based on the required reading, Esperanza Rising, by Pam Munoz Ryan. Participants had 30 minutes to answer 50 questions based on the book, a poem and language skills.

The super quiz was conducted immediately following both events. Teams walked into the testing arena to face off in a series of questions on the topic “Physical Principals, Structure and Function.”

Each super quiz team consisted of four to six members answering 15 questions out of 30. The four highest scores were added up to determine the winning team.

The awards ceremony was held immediately following the super quiz and lunch. Certificates and pins were handed out to all participating students.

Seventh grade winners:

Essay: Kathrine Bodine, Rivergold Elementary, gold. Holly Hiatt, Ranchos, silver. Kendall Mille,Rivergold, bronze.

Literature: Jazper Blancett, Ranchos, gold. Rachel Loveland, Coarsegold, silver. Holly Hiatt, Ranchos, silver. Hannah Hurtado, Coarsegold, bronze. Brooke Yang, Ranchos, bronze. Kendall Miller, Rivergold, bronze. David O’Brien, Wasuma, bronze. Sarah Meeks, Wasuma, bronze.

Math: Dylan Micallef, Coarsegold, gold. Alexia Dahlin, Coarsegold, silver. Allison Tomlinson, Dairyland, silver. Riley Barney, Dairyland, silver. Ruben Reyes, Jack G. Desmond, silver. Olivia Mattos, Oak Creek Intermediate, silver. Jameson Frazier, Ranchos, silver. David O’Brien, Wasuma, silver. Bryce Talbot, Rivergold, bronze.

Speech: Kaleb Roth, Ranchos, gold. Greyson Hoelzel, Ranchos, silver. Jared Brazda, Jack G. Desmond, bronze.

Eighth grader winners:

Essay Audrey Kenison, Rivergold, gold. Vivian Montijo, Ranchos, silver. Jailene Morales Jimenez, Martin Luther King, Jr., bronze.

Literature: Isabel McGoldrick, Wasuma, gold. Allana Worrell, Oak Creek Intermediate, silver. Kelsey Noble, Ranchos, silver. Joe Campbell, Coarsegold, bronze. Jordyn Samper, Spring Valley, bronze.

Math: Brandon Healey, Wasuma, gold. Burke Stewart, Oak Creek Intermediate, gold. Candida Lopez, Martin Luther King, Jr., silver. Sarah Valdez, Ranchos, silver. Isabel McGoldrick, Wasuma, silver. Lauren Peterson, Oak Creek Intermediate, bonze. Zachary Hendrix, St. Joachim, bronze.

Speech: Mecca Ison, Wasuma, gold. Alexa Rosa, Ranchos, silver. Elise Keele, Wasuma, bronze.