Urbana High School students won this year’s countywide Academic Tournament for the fourth time in school history.
Walkersville High finished second. Brunswick High placed third.
The Academic Tournament is in its 40th year. All matches were held virtually for the first time in the tournament’s history.
Since 1982, Linganore has won the tournament nine times; Frederick and Walkersville each have six wins; Gov. Thomas Johnson and Middletown have each won five; Urbana now has four victories; Brunswick has won three times, and teams from Catoctin and Tuscarora have each won once. Walkersville was this year’s regular season winner.
Tradition includes bestowing the Charles “Chuck” Thomas Memorial Award, often referred to as the curriculum specialists’ award, after the championship to an individual or group who has made significant contributions to the tournament’s success.This year’s award winner is Frank Strakonsky, a special education instructional assistant at Frederick High. He is also the longtime FHS girls’ cross country and track and field coach.
Retired Walkersville High School teacher Eric Reickel served as master of ceremonies, reading questions at the virtual event. Frederick High School’s social studies department chair Beth Strakonsky coordinated this year’s tournament, with assistance from STV Inc. engineering specialist Kelly Misner, who competed on the Walkersville High Academic Tournament team while in high school.
FCPS has posted a video of the championship online at: https://youtu.be/a8yWSCoK6SI