NEBRASKA CITY – Lourdes Central Catholic placed second in the Very Small Schools category at the regional, online competition of the academic decathlon in January and will advance to state competition Feb. 17 under the theme of the American Revolution.

The Lourdes’ team earned 49 individual medals, including 16 golds. The top scorer for the team was Cora Krog. Kadence White also earned a medal in the honors division.

Here is a press release from the school

Congratulations to the 2022-2023 Lourdes Central Catholic School Academic Decathlon team for an outstanding showing at their online Regional competition held January 18. The team placed second in the Very Small Schools category and will be advancing to State, which is scheduled February 17 & 18.

The 2022-2023 Academic Decathlon team members include:

  • seniors -- Makenzie Green, Theresa Gygi, Andrew Bakula, Ella Ragland, and Gabriela Serna
  • juniors -- Cora Krog and Lucy Chaney
  • sophomores -- Kadence White, Evie Dorman, Murphy Roby, Kellen Barker, and Ethan Bruggeman.

 Students are tested across the standard curriculum under the umbrella of a theme that changes each year. The theme they are studying this year is The American Revolution.

During the Regional competition, each team member receives the same test; however, the scores are compared and divided based on if a student is a regular team member or an alternate, and if a team member is competing as an Honors Student (GPA of 3.8 to 4.0), a Scholastic Student (GPA of 3.2 to 3.79), or a Varsity Student (GPA of 0.0 to 3.19).

The Lourdes Academic Decathlon team earned 49 individual medals at Regionals (14 Gold, 15 Silver, 20 Bronze). Cora Krog was the Top Scorer for the team.

Earning medals for the main team HONORS Division were Cora Krog and Kadence White. Krog earned gold in Art and Music, silver in Economics and Social Science, and bronze in Literature and Math. White took gold in Literature, Science, and Social Science, and silver in Art and Music.

Main team SCHOLASTIC students were Andrew Bakula and Murphy Roby. Bakula took bronze in Art and Literature. Roby earned gold in Literature and bronze in Science. 

Main team VARSITY students were Ella Ragland and Ethan Bruggeman. Ragland earned gold in Music and Math, silver in Art and Economics, and bronze in Science. Bruggeman earned bronze in Economics. 

Alternate team members also tested under the same subjects. Honors alternates were Evie Dorman and Makenzie Green. Dorman took silver in Art and Literature and bronze in Music, Science, and Social Science. Green earned silver in Math and Science and bronze in Art. Scholastic alternates were Lucy Chaney and Theresa Gygi. Chaney earned gold in Literature, silver in Math and Economics, and bronze in Art (tying with Gygi), Music, and Social Science. Gygi earned gold in Music and Math, silver in Literature and Social Science, and bronze in Art (tying with Chaney). The Varsity alternates were Gabriela Serna and Kellen Barker. Serna took home gold in Art, Math, and Social Science, silver in Music, and bronze in Economics (tying with Barker). In addition to the bronze in Economics, Barker also earned bronze in Music and Literature.

 The Lourdes Academic Decathlon team is coached by Tammy Partsch and Tom Dinville. The team Aquatic Engineers are Ava Buggi, Rebekah Vaverek, Kaelyn Monahan, and Laura Vaverek.