Academic decathlon state champ ‘crushed’ competition

The decathlon is considered the greatest measurement of athletic prowess. To succeed in one event certainly is an accomplishment, but to do well in 10 of them is big-time impressive.

Education has a similar competition for overall excellence. It’s called the academic decathlon, measuring performance in art, economics, essay, interview, language/literature, math, music, science, social studies and speech.

And we have our very own academic version of Bruce Jenner right here in Muscogee County — well, the Bruce Jenner before his, uh, her operation.

Hardaway senior Austin Key won the gold medal for highest individual cumulative score in the varsity division during the 2016 Georgia Academic Decathlon, Feb. 26-27, at Berkmar High School in Lilburn, where approximately 200 students from 23 schools competed.

Wow.

“He crushed the other students, almost 3,000 points ahead,” Hardaway academic decathlon coach Carmen Kimsey-Morris said as the Muscogee County School Board honored Austin at last month’s meeting. “He’s truly one of the smartest young men that I’ve ever had the privilege to work with, and he’s a lot of fun too, so I’m very proud of him.”

Oh, and at the regional competition where he qualified for the state championship, Austin won medals in nine of the 10 events, Kimsey-Morris noted.

Board chairman Rob Varner cracked up the crowd when he told Austin, who wore a blazer and looked as smart as his brain, “As she was reading through all those accolades, I started thinking about myself in high school and how much you and I are alike.

“I had a blue jacket in high school.”

After the laughter, Varner added, “You’re an incredible young man.”

Indeed.

This story was originally published April 6, 2016 at 10:45 AM with the headline "Academic decathlon state champ ‘crushed’ competition."