Chaminade Fifth in Academic Decathlon

Academic decathlon team members at Chaminade College Preparatory's middle school didn't come home with a first-place trophy from a statewide competition, but they did make a showing in three categories.

Team Chaminade took first place in mathematics, second place in literature and third place in English, but it wasn't enough to keep from finishing fifth out of eight Catholic school rivals that competed.

"They were disappointed, because they don't like losing," said Principal Chris Hunter. "They got a run for their money, though, which is good for them."

The daylong contest was held Saturday at St. Matthias Pius X High School in Downey, the same site where the eighth-graders from Chaminade beat 63 teams in March to capture its district academic decathlon title for the second year in a row.