Nationals-Bound: Lakewood Academic Challenge Returns To Big Stage

LAKEWOOD, OH — For the sixth straight year, the Lakewood High School Academic Challenge team is returning to national competition. The team will head back to Chicago on June 8 through 10 to compete on both the varsity and junior varsity levels. But they could use your help.

While the team has already qualified for nationals because of last year's performance, the team will still be competing in both regional and, possibly, state competition. If the team does well at the regional level, they may need additional funding to head to states.

Anyone that wants to support the Lakewood High Academic Challenge team is asked to send donations to Lakewood Academic Challenge Team, c/o Robert Sedlak, 14100 Franklin Blvd., Lakewood, Ohio 44107. Sedlak is the academic adviser for the team. He said "support is much appreciated," on the district website.

The team has competed this year in invitational tournaments in Solon and Olmsted Falls. The varsity and JV teams finished third out of 10 schools in conference matches and, at the invitationals, the JV squad finished second out of 20 teams.

Last year, Lakewood High performed exceptionally well at the national competition, finishing seventh out of 72 schools. The national contest will again be held in Chicago this year.

The varsity team this year in led by senior co-captains Erika Hakko and Brain Donahoe, with strong senior support from Abe Dalisky, Seamus Holian, Zach Howe, Damian Jouriles, and Veronica Lee. The team is also getting contributions from underclassmen, including Evan Bell, Aidan Bohac, and Kathryn Oleksa, and juniors John Bobic, Tim Daso, Michael Ferrone, Tim Daso Franc Lleshaj, Nikoy Norris and Sasha Seckers. As individual scorers, Evan and Aidan ranked near the top of correct answers given in both invitational tournaments, according to Sedlak.

The team now has 32 members total. The Lakewood Academic Challenge team started with six members back in 2012.

"Some of our members have even been seen writing questions of their own, to stump the other members of the team. Our dual meet record over the past six years is an outstanding 49-7, with six national tournament invites," Sedlak said on the district website.

Photo from Rick Uldricks, Patch