Wisconsin Academic Decathlon
Amanda Albrecht, State Director
State Competition News Release
2025-2026 Theme – The Roaring Twenties
The Wisconsin Academic Decathlon held its 43rd annual State Competition February 26-27, 2026 at the Tundra Lodge Resort and Conference Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
The state-wide competition last week included these 24 competing high school teams from across the state of Wisconsin: Berlin, Cambridge, Deerfield, Dodgeland, Elk Mound, Grantsburg, Green Bay East, Green Bay West, Iowa-Grant, LaCrosse Logan, Marathon, Melrose-Mindoro, Menomonie, New Berlin Eisenhower, New Berlin West, Osceola, Pewaukee, Green Bay Preble, Sun Prairie United, Tomah, Watertown, Waukesha North, Waukesha West, and Wolf River Lutheran. Wilmot Union High School, Winneconne High School, and Waterford Union High School participated as exhibition teams. For the first time ever, WIAD also had individual competitors. A total of 222 students participated in the event with over 70 volunteers assisting with judging speeches, judging interviews, proctoring tests, running scores and much more.
To reach the State Competition level, these Wisconsin high school students advanced from both Local and Regional events, having competed with teams from 31 Wisconsin high schools at the start of the season last November.
Centered on the curricular theme of The Roaring Twenties, students were tested in the following subject areas: art, economics, literature, mathematics, music, science and social science. Students also submitted essays, gave speeches, were interviewed and took part in Super Quiz at the State Competition.
Each Academic Decathlon team consists of nine students of varied academic backgrounds. Students with a GPA of 3.8-4.0 fall in the category of ‘Honor’. Students with a GPA of 3.2-37.99 fall in the category of ‘Scholastic’. Lastly, students with a GPA of 0-3.199 fall into the category of ‘Varsity’. Three students in each of those categories comprise a full AcaDec team. This program embraces the spirit of academic competition for all achievement levels of students in grades 9-12 across the state of Wisconsin. At the State Competition, students competed for medals, plaques, and trophies as well as a chance to compete in the National USAD Competition in Garden Grove, California or online next month.
The 2026 State Champion is New Berlin Eisenhower High School with a total score of 40,857.8. New Berlin Eisehhower also captured the Top Team Award in music this year. New Berlin West High School walked away with the Top Team Award in eight subject areas: art, economics, literature, math, science, social science, interview, and Super Quiz. Tomah High School earned the Top Team Award for essay and Green Bay Preble High School earned the Top Team Award for speech.
Individual students won gold, silver, and bronze medals for being the overall top scorer in their academic category (Honor, Scholastic or Varsity) Brandon S. of Waterford Union High School was the overall top scorer in the Scholastic category as well as the overall top scorer for the entire State Competition. Isha J. of New Berlin Eisenhower High School was the overall top scorer in the Honor category. Derek G. of New Berlin West High School took the gold for overall top scorer in the Varsity category.
During the Super Quiz Competition, 2 students from different schools earned a perfect 1000 points for their team. Brandon S. of Waterford Union and Emily S. of Winneconne took home gold medals for this accomplishment.
Brandon S. of Waterford Union also broke two state records, one in art and one in social science, as a Scholastic competitor. Brandon S. also tied the state record in speech. Tommy G. of Marathon broke the Wisconsin State Scholastic Essay record set in 2024.
The overall state winners by division shakes out like this:
3 rd Place Division IV: Dodgeland HS
3 rd Place Division III: Cambridge HS
3 rd Place Division II: Pewaukee HS
3 rd Place Division I: Sun Prairie United HS
2 nd Place Division IV: Melrose-Mindoro HS
2 nd Place Division III: Berlin HS
2 nd Place Division II: Tomah HS
2 nd Place Division I: Green Bay Preble HS
Division IV Champions: Marathon HS
Division III Champions: Osceola HS
Division I Champions: Watertown HS
Division II Champions: New Berlin West HS
The Overall State Champion, New Berlin Eisenhower High School has earned the right to compete in the USAD National Competition April 27-29, 2023 in Frisco Texas. This year, 4 teams will be invited to represent Wisconsin at the USAD National Finals in Garden Grove, California, and 3 more teams will represent Wisconsin at the online national competitions. 6 individual decathletes (2 Honor, 2 scholastic, and 2 varsity)will also be invited to compete at the USAD National Finals in Garden Grove, California.
The remaining teams invited to compete at the National Competition in Garden Grove, California are the Division I, II, and III championship teams: New Berlin West, Watertown, and Osceola High Schools.
As USAD Large, Medium, and Small School Division winners, Green Bay Preble High School, Tomah High School, and Marathon High School have earned the opportunity to represent Wisconsin in the National Online Competition, occurring simultaneously with USAD’s National Competition.
For more information about Wisconsin Academic Decathlon and how you can start a team at your local high school, volunteer at a competition, and/or donate to the program or sponsor a school/team please visit our website https://bit.ly/WiacDec or contact State Director Amanda Albrecht by phone (920) 379-6903 or via email aalbrecht@cesa7.org .