RHS AcaDeca team places 5th in annual competition

Aiden McAllister

On February 12, 2026, the Academic Decathlon award ceremony was held at Chaffey High School’s auditorium for the results of the competitions held on January 31 and February 7, where Rialto High School’s team placed fifth in the annual competition. 

The RHS AcaDeca varsity team being awarded 5th place

Academic Decathlon, or AcaDeca, is a class where students study seven subjects to compete in a competition every February.

Although not a school-record placement, the team was the highest-scoring in school history. Julien Ansermet, the AcaDeca coach and physics teacher, said this on the outcome of this year’s placement and if it reflected the students’ effort: “I was very much aware of how much they studied, and it was a lot, then you got fifth … We didn’t get the best result, which would have been nice to see.” One thing Mr. Ansermet wishes he had done differently at the start of this year. “From what students have told me is to set the expectations higher and to be firmer with deadlines and strict with things,” he shared.

For those planning on taking the class next year, expect a more “locked-in” environment. 

Jesse Sanchez, a 12th grader and first-year Academic Decathlon student on the JV team, said, “Obviously, I was excited, but I was also let down because I know how much work they put in. But after receiving the scores, we found out that the varsity team is our teacher’s highest scoring team ever, so we feel happy about that.” 

Kayla Elias, an 11th grader and second-year Academic Decathlon student on the varsity team, said, “I thought we were going to make at least the top three. We’d been working really hard all year. So it was kind of a letdown when we got announced.” Elias, who plans to take the class in her senior year, said she wants to see a change in the attitude and drive early on in the school year. “Especially this year, I’ve seen that people had a drive second semester a lot more than they did first semester, and I feel other schools have had that same drive all year around. So I think it’s definitely something that I want to see change throughout the whole school year.” 

Any student interested in, or already signed up for, the Academic Decathlon can ask Mr. Ansermet in F-110 for more information.