Casa Grande wins again in Academic Decathlon

Casa Grande High School took home its eighth state title and three gold medals in the California Academic Decathlon held this weekend in Sacramento, Coach Rick Pillsbury said Monday.

The nine-member team placed first among medium-sized schools, recording its highest ever score and beating out rival Vanden High of Fairfield, which placed second, Pillsbury said.

Three Gaucho team members took home gold medals for highest individual scores in their class. Among them was Quiachu Yuan, the school’s valedictorian, Nicole Mitchell and Devin McCarthy, Pillsbury said.

Ventura County’s Moorpark High won the title for large schools and will compete in the national contest, Pillsbury said.

All the schools were honored in an awards ceremony Monday.

“It was wonderful,” Casa junior Joseph McMahan said. “It was very nerve-wracking realizing you’re there with the smartest students in the state.”