Dynamic duos are hard to come by, but Wakeland Academic Decathlon is full of them. The class includes junior Katelyn and sophomore Kenneth Wang, sophomores Elizabeth and Emily Cone, and sophomores Emmylou and Evangeline Bush. Even the teachers are siblings, with the team being coached by sisters Mrs. Woods and Mrs. Cone.
“I have loved getting to coach Academic Decathlon with Ms. Cone! We have been coaching Academic Decathlon together at Wakeland since the school opened. The nice thing about being sisters is that we know each other well enough to see things similarly, but we are also able to be honest with each other about things that we see differently. It’s not only benefited us as a coaching team, but it’s also been a great way to have a completely unique relationship with one of my siblings,” said Woods.
Having these sibling sets makes the team feel more like a family, bringing everyone closer together. It also provides a competitive advantage, as siblings can study amongst themselves at home, giving them a great way to prepare beyond the limited time in class.
“Because I joined with my sister, I have so many more ways to study. She actually understands what I’m talking about, and she can correct me on where I’m wrong,” said Emmylou Bush.
“AcDec,” as it is called by its members, is a rigorous course that consists of ten different subjects within a theme. The theme this year is Technology and Humanity, and competitors will learn about technology through music, art, history, literature and more. Preparing to compete in ten different subjects can be very difficult to study when no one is around to help. Living around the clock with someone who understands the different subjects gives the siblings a leg up when it comes down to competition day.
It is easier for these sibling pairs to get into the groove of the rigorous work because they can hold each other accountable for any tests, projects, study guides, or annotations that are due in class. With so much to do and so little time before competition day, studying at home is vital for success. Since they spend time with each other in class and at home, these decathletes can prepare together at any time.
“We get a lot of benefits from being in class together. We don’t have to rely on other people, and we don’t have to look for a partner because we can automatically be with each other,” said Elizabeth Cone.
Joining AcDec as a pair can help alleviate the pressure of competition, and it creates a more fun class atmosphere.
With these advantages, the future of Wakeland’s Academic Decathlon team is looking brighter than ever, and they cannot wait to show off their hard work at the district competition on December 16th, 2023.
