For the third year in a row, the Falcons of Minden-based Sierra Lutheran High School have won the Academic Olympic state championship.
"It makes me really proud," said team coach and executive director of the school Norm Brauer. "Last year, we were dependent on about five seniors. This year's win indicates a perpetuity of academic excellence. There is a lot of optimism that our younger students will continue to represent the school."
Competing in Tonopah on Nov. 24 against the top 1A schools from four regions throughout the state, the 2008 Sierra Lutheran team came from behind in the final round to defeat Henderson International High School in overtime.
The day began with 10 high schools engaging in four rounds of preliminary competition. By noon, teams from Pahranagat Valley, Round Mountain, Wells, and Lake Mead Christian were eliminated. Advancing to the semi-finals were all three representatives of the northwest region, Sierra Lutheran, Virginia City and Coleville, along with Carlin, Eureka and Henderson International.
Two 30-minute rounds of questioning led to victories for Eureka, Henderson International and Sierra Lutheran.
Following a brief intermission, the three finalists braced for a final round that would result in the crowning of a state champion. Henderson International jumped out to the lead in the first 10 minutes. Slowly but surely, however, the Falcons chipped away at that lead and distanced themselves from Eureka until they forced an overtime period to determine the championship.
A two-point lead was required to break the tie.
First, Henderson gained a one-point advantage, but Sierra Lutheran answered back. The momentum swung both ways until, after 25 additional minutes of questioning, Sierra Lutheran gained the two-point advantage and secured victory.
Senior Ben Harms has been on the Academic Olympic team since he was a freshman. This was his third state championship title.
"It feels awesome," he said. "It was a lot harder than last year. Our competition seemed to have improved."
Junior Aaron Sever agreed with his teammate.
"The competition was stiffer and tougher this time," he said. "We lost a good amount of brain power last year, but we made it up."
"It was pretty amazing," said junior Jesse Walser-Castro. "We had a lot of fun."
