This past weekend, High Tech sent two Academic Teams to PACE, the Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence National Scholastic Championship in Reston, Virginia. On Saturday, the A-team of Steven Liu, Darren Petrosino, Cole Snedeker, and Michael Li went undefeated in morning prelims and 4-1 in the afternoon playoffs, clinching top 8 in this national tournament for the first time since 2015. On Sunday, they went 3-4 among the best of the best to finish 5th place out of 96 teams. The B-team of Samuel Hampel, Frank Grabowski, Selena Liu, and Deepak Gopalakrishnan went 2-5 on Sunday, but were still able to get 55th in the tournament, despite having no seniors.

This is the last tournament that Steven, Michael, Darren, and Cole will ever play for High Tech. Getting fifth place was a proper send-off, being one of the best placements High Tech has ever gotten at a national tournament. You all make us proud. Congratulations on a terrific year.

In the picture below from left to right: Darren Petrosino, Michael Li, Steven Liu, and Cole Snedeker.