Members of the Academic Decathlon have already started studying for the Regional competition in January. At the first meeting of the year, the team discussed how much studying everyone has accomplished and whether or not he/she wanted to purchase T-shirts to compete in.

“I think (the T-shirts) would further bring us together as a team in competition,” club sponsor Wendy Gerardot said.

According to Gerardot, the team would be allowed to wear the shirts while testing, but not during the speech. This is a precaution to prevent judges from being biased. Nina Sun, scholastic member and senior said, “I think they would be a fun thing for the team.”

Last year, Gerardot made a study schedule for the team. She is in the process of creating another schedule for studying to keep members on track of their studies. “I hope the kids really find it useful,” she said.

Sun said she hasn’t studied too much but isn’t worried. Gerardot isn’t concerned with how much studying has been accomplished either. “I’m not worried; we are still further than we were last year at this point,” she said.

The team has a lead on two students who might be able to compete on the varsity level in the Regional competition. Gerardot said she would love to have them join, but they aren’t necessary to compete.

According to Sun, the team is already excited to compete and ready for all its hard work to pay off.