Hearts pound, minds race, stomachs tie in endless knots and sweat drips down foreheads. A student sits behind a desk taking a multiple-choice test.

“”Which country had the second highest rate of imports into the United States?””

The answer: Canada.

While many students will never visit Canada, or many of the places the tests inquire about, this current Academic Decathlon team is focusing on bettering their final result.

“I think last year was the learning curve,” Alec Kneefel, ’05, said. “We did not place with any medals, and we were dominated by an overpowering Edison and University juggernaut. However, we are in a new division with a new ball game. We’re going to sweep everybody.”

This year our campus’ Academic Decathlon team has moved divisions as they were realigned over the summer. Schools were repositioned and the campus team is now one of eight teams in Division II. Three teams were moved from Division I and it now consists of five teams.

“We have really high hopes to win our division,” Molly Sargent, team coach, said. “Now there are four divisions, which will be a huge difference. We can be competitive and, if not win, we should be able to at least place in the top three.”

Academic Decathlon has three returning veteran members who are expected to lead the team. Seniors Anne Hierholzer, Chris White and Kneefel have already begun to lead by example.

“The experienced players will help in the aspects of speeches, interviews and Super Quiz,” Chris White, ’05, said. “The actual tests you take are like any other.”

The results of the competitions reflect how effectively a particular team studied. All the students are expected to create flashcards, highlight text, read extra material, attend lectures and listen to music.

“Studying for Academic Decathlon is a challenge,” Brittany Motte, ’07, said. “We have to be able to know a variety of definitions, facts, dates, people, vocabulary and be able to identify different types of classical music. We also have to make flashcards for ourselves and listen to lectures.”

For more information about Academic Decathlon, contact Sargent at 297-1380 or go to www.USAD.org. Beside the daily study, the team will travel to Bakersfield to study classical music at the Bakersfield Convention Center on Oct. 27, and to Stockton Nov. 13 for the Fine Arts Day at San Joaquin Delta College.