Waukesha West Wins Decathlon

By Dustin Beilke
WEAC public relations writer

Duane Stein’s colorful, busy Waukesha West High School classroom exemplifies fusion. A student has painted a reproduction of the Sistine Chapel on a section of the ceiling. A poster for the art-punk band Weezer hangs on one wall. On another wall is a hand-painted sign saying, “Don’t mess with Wisconsin,” with the words “Texas” and “California” crossed out.

“All the kids bring in things that are special and unique to them, and when you throw it all together it’s really interesting,” Stein said.

He said the same kind of collaboration and diversity is what made his Waukesha West Academic Decathlon team a national champion at the April competition in Phoenix, Arizona. In the 21-year history of the national academic competition, Waukesha West is the first winner from outside of Texas or California. West is also the first Division II school to win nationals.

“Everybody from the other states thought we were a magnet school,” Stein said. “But I kept saying, ‘No, we’re a relatively small public school from Wisconsin.’”

As in athletic decathlons, high school students competing in the Academic Decathlon must prepare for 10 events. They take written tests in six subjects: art, music, economics, science, language/literature and mathematics. They also write essays, give interviews, make speeches – one prepared and one impromptu – and compete in a Super Quiz, the only public portion of the competition.

Stein’s English classroom is where the team meets and practices, and also where team members socialize during the season and off-season. Stein said the team’s closeness and friendly competitiveness provided the impetus needed to beat the national powerhouses. All the team members have different strengths and were able to help their teammates.

Stein has coached the Academic Decathlon since 1984, for as long as Wisconsin teams have competed.

“My role is to bring the kids together and keep them together,” Stein said.

Waukesha West Junior Ryan Ramlow won the individual championship at the national competition, achieving the highest cumulative score among more than 500 competitors. In addition to the all-around gold, Ramlow also won gold medals in language/literature, science, music and economics.

Ramlow said he joined the team and excelled because another team member, Katy Long, challenged him to do so by telling him he wasn’t up to the task. Long won gold medals in the speech and interview competitions.

Academic Decathlon teams include a diverse group of students: Three must have A grade averages, three must have B averages, and three must have C averages or below. Ramlow joined the team with a 1.833 cumulative grade point average.

“Someone told me I couldn’t do it, so that’s why I did it,” Ramlow said.

Ramlow and the other decathletes spent hundreds of hours studying evenings, weekends and even Easter break. Instead of leaving for spring vacations, they studied at least six hours a day in the empty school.

“I think the confidence we had in all our hours of study helped us,” Ramlow said.

Stein had coaching help from other teachers and Waukesha community members who have expertise in different subject areas. Between the state and national finals, decathletes from Wauwatosa East and Kettle Moraine also worked with Waukesha West’s team on certain events.

“Mr. Stein was the great organizer,” Ramlow said. “He put together a support group from everywhere.”

Posted May 31, 2002