Manassas Park High Academic Team Heads to State Scholastic Bowl

By now, everybody knows the Manassas Park High School wrestling team is a force to be reckoned with—but make no mistake about it—the students in this high school have strength and smarts. 

 On Friday, the Manassas Park High School Academic Team boarded a bus to Williamsburg to participate in the State Scholastic Bowl Championship competition slated for Saturday.

 The 17-student squad currently boasts the best record in the school’s history with a district record of 10-5, said Ray Morelli Manassas Park High government teacher and academic team coach.

 “We’ve never had a winning record,” Morelli said. “6-9 was the best record for us and that was last year.”

“I have a bright group of kids. My team captain  (Warren Sears) had a perfect score on the math section of the SAT.”

 Two more members of the team attend the Virginia Governor’s School, he said.

 “They are fully committed,” Morelli said.

 Commitment has made the team one of the top eight in the state of Virginia.

 During the regular competition season, the Manassas Park team plays five different teams three times.

 Four of the 17 students compete at any given time.

 Most of their few losses were to George Mason High School—one of the top teams in the state, Morelli said.

 “George Mason is the best in the district and honestly, they won the state last year and they have the same kids this year. They could probably beat the college version of George Mason,” he said.

 Nevertheless, Morelli, who describes himself as “hyper-competitive,” has great faith in his team.

 “I’m really proud of them, honestly,” Morelli said.

 During the school year the team usually practices on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

 The students also participate in scrimmages against their teachers.

 “I have a hard time finding teachers that can beat them,” he said.

 Any type of question can come up during competition, including, English, math, popular culture and science, so the students have to stay sharp.

 “It’s pretty diverse. I’ve heard chemistry to a Katy Perry question,” he said.

 When asked how the students feel about Saturday’s competition, Morelli said it’s a big deal to them.

 “It matters, I can tell,” he said.

 Morelli has been the coach of the academic team for six years and is assisted by Manassas Park High School advanced placement biology teacher Jenifer Bryant.

Here is a list of the students on the 2010-2011 academic team.

Freshmen:  Chris Hoffa, Faysal Shaikh, Ruby Kahlon, Karen Xu

Sophomores: Stephanie Buck, Harris Iqbal and Hunter Wichelt

Juniors: Saviel de la Cruz,  Amoalk Kahlon, Jaime Martinez

Senior: Frank Kasik
State tournament  starters: Senior captain Warren Sears, sophomore Kelsey Dyer, juniors Josh Morgan and Kitty Nguyen, senior James Hicks.