Pictured is Wasuma’s 1st Place Team including Hadley Abbott, Ian Alaniz, Asher Ausley, Ariel Barker, Dominic Garcia, Hosea Glauner, Brinley Lundquist, Emilia Mannara-Keeney, Ryan Reyes, Sofia Ruiz, Jayden Shapiro, Athena Sischo and Paige Stanfill with coaches Rebecca Ahmadi and Donna Springer.
The 2026 Madera County Academic Pentathlon culminated with the Super Quiz and Awards Ceremony on Saturday, March 7, with local schools representing Eastern Madera County well.
Wasuma Elementary School was named this year’s champion team and placed first in the Super Quiz, taking top honors home to Ahwahnee.
Nearly 130 students participated in this five-event academic competition, held on Feb. 27 and March 7. Students competed in the areas of essay, fine arts, literature, science and social science. This year’s topic was “The Roaring Twenties.”
Sherman Thomas STEM Academy came in second place and Mountain Home School Charter placed third.
“The Pentathlon highlights the incredible talent and determination of our middle school students,” said Tricia Protzman, Madera County Superintendent of Schools.
“Their preparation, teamwork and enthusiasm reflect the strong academic culture we are proud to foster in Madera County.”
Wasuma Elementary School earned first place in the Super Quiz followed by Sherman Thomas STEM Academy with Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School placing third.
Mountain Home School’s 3rd Place Team is shown including Bonnie Bodycomb, Anadel Burrow, Darian “Kova” Crump, Isla Hays, Finn Maire and Trey Schiavon. The team was coached by Kim Meeks.
The Super Quiz is the only event open to the public, giving spectators a chance to watch the teams compete live.
This year teams consisted of a combination of 7th and 8th grade students. Individual medals for each subject were handed out based on grade level. Each team consisted of up to 25 students. Students had to compete in all five events to earn medals. Teams received materials and started practicing in September.
“This event is about more than medals or rankings,” said Protzman.
“It’s about building confidence, strengthening academic skills, and inspiring students to push beyond what they thought possible. Our Pentathletes rose to that challenge in every way.”
Additional participating teams included: Coarsegold Elementary, Eastin-Arcola Elementary, Hillside Elementary, La Vina Elementary, Jack G. Desmond Middle, Ranchos Middle and Thomas Jefferson Middle Schools.
Wasuma’s Sofia Ruiz is pictured with her five medals, one for each event in the county pentathlon.
The Academic Pentathlon is sponsored by Madera County Superintendent of Schools and the Madera County Schools Foundation and supported by community donations, including Educational Employees Credit Union.
A complete list of award recipients is below:
Essay
7th Grade Gold: Sofia Ruiz, Wasuma Elementary School; Silver: Layla Badr, Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School; Bronze: Chelsea Vega, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy; 4th: Jessiah Arguello, Ranchos Middle School.
8th Grade Gold: Bryanna Richards, Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School; Silver: Ariel Barker, Wasuma Elementary School; Bronze: Akaar Bains, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy; 4th: Athena Sischo, Wasuma Elementary School.
Fine Arts
7th Grade Gold: Isla Hays, Mountain Home School Charter; Silver: Bonnie Bodycomb, Mountain Home School Charter; Silver: Anadel Burrow, Mountain Home School Charter; Silver: Sofia Ruiz, Wasuma Elementary School; Bronze: Jaxon Patzkowsky, Coarsegold Elementary School; 4th: Nicholas Gonzalez, Jack G. Desmond Middle School.
8th Grade Gold: Ariel Barker, Wasuma Elementary School; Gold: Athena Sischo, Wasuma Elementary School; Silver: Akaar Bains, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy; Bronze: Deklan Bispham, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy; 4th: Bryanna Richards, Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School.
Literature
7th Grade Gold: Audrey Herbert, Hillside Elementary School; Silver: Isla Hays, Mountain Home School Charter; Bronze: Sofia Ruiz, Wasuma Elementary School; 4th: Sara Enrique-Cervantes, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy.
8th Grade Gold: Athena Sischo, Wasuma Elementary School; Silver: Ariel Barker, Wasuma Elementary School; Bronze: Hosea Glauner, Wasuma Elementary School; 4th: Bryanna Richards, Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School.
Science
7th Grade Gold: Audrey Herbert, Hillside Elementary School; Silver: Rodrigo Flores, Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School; Bronze: Bonnie Bodycomb, Mountain Home School Charter; Bronze: Dominic Garcia, Wasuma Elementary School; Bronze: Nicholas Gonzalez, Jack G. Desmond Middle School; Bronze: Esteban Ledezma Flores, Thomas Jefferson Middle School; Bronze: Sofia Ruiz, Wasuma Elementary School; 4th: Anadel Burrow, Mountain Home School Charter; 4th: Fox Morley, Coarsegold Elementary School; 4th: Alexa Romero, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy; 4th: Chelsea Vega, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy.
8th Grade Gold: Athena Sischo, Wasuma Elementary School; Silver: Deklan Bispham, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy; Bronze: Akaar Bains, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy; Bronze: Jayden Shapiro, Wasuma Elementary School; 4th: Finn Maire, Mountain Home School Charter 4th: Genevieve Newland, Ranchos Middle School.
Social Science
7th Grade Gold: Audrey Herbert, Hillside Elementary School; Silver: Anadel Burrow, Mountain Home School Charter; Bronze: Jessiah Arguello, Ranchos Middle School; Bronze: Brinley Lundquist, Wasuma Elementary School; 4th: Sofia Ruiz, Wasuma Elementary School.
8th Grade Gold: Akaar Bains, Sherman Thomas STEM Academy; Silver: Athena Sischo, Wasuma Elementary School; Bronze: Ariel Barker, Wasuma Elementary School; 4th: Delilah Garcia, Coarsegold Elementary School.
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