The Academic Decathlon team has been hard at work studying their material over the 12 subjects that members will be tested over on Jan. 19 in the Regional Academic Decathlon competition.

“This summer we were able to distribute materials early for everyone to study, so those who could were doing that,” Club president and senior Emily Weerakkody said via Facebook. Club sponsor Wendy Gerardot said, “We haven’t had a meeting yet so I’m not sure how much studying has actually been done. It’s very independent.”

According to Gerardot, the team is officially able to compete although it would like to have one more member on the varsity team which include members with an unweighted GPAs of around a 3.0. Two alternates would be ideal but aren’t necessary to compete.

“I’m not all that worried for them about the Regional competition, I think we actually have a shot at winning State this year,” Weerakkody said via Facebook.

“We’ve got a couple people on a mission. They really want to dethrone Martinsville,” Gerardot said. She said she believes Martinsville has won the State competition almost 15 years in a row. Gerardot said, “We’ve already talked to Mr. Schaller about if we make it to Nationals and they said they would to find a way to get us there. It’s that kind of thinking that will get us to Nationals.”