Toga parties are a common tradition on college campuses, but from July 26 to 31 at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, an unusual toga party was taking place. Some 1,600 middle and high school Latin students from 31 states and one Canadian province gathered to compete, learn, and socialize under the realm of the classics.
California sent a delegation consisting of 27 students, 5 sponsors, and 1 chaperone from schools from Northern and Southern California, including Loyola High School of Los Angeles, Miramonte High School in Orinda, Woodbridge High School in Irvine, the Harker School in San Jose, and others.
Students spent time competing in sports, spirit, arts, and academics. Frederick Muth, a senior from Loyola High School said, “We may not be the most competitive, but we’ve always been good sports and hard workers. We rarely win spirit, but boy do we try, shouting and screaming in the name of Latin. I think we bring more than our share of enthusiasm and charisma to the convention.”
Led by 2nd Vice President Marie Musumeci, a senior from St. Ignatius High School, delegates clapped, cheered, and screamed in the spirit competitions.
California sent three state teams in the elite certamen competition: a quiz-bowl type competition in which competitors are asked questions pertaining to Latin or Rome. Competing against strong states, California’s Advanced and Intermediate teams managed to place 8th and 9th respectively.
In academics, students from California consistently placed in the top five. In the most difficult competition, the Academic Decathlon in which students are tested on ten subjects, California had two award-winners: Frederick Muth from Loyola High School placed first, winning $500, and Clark Pang from Miramonte High School placed third. Typically, this contest is won by students in their fifth or sixth year of Latin, but both students completed their third year of Latin.
Muth said, “I was caught completely by surprise when I won the Decathlon. I always assumed there were too many other crazily smart people who would blow me away, but I guess that everything really is in reach if you work at it.”
Not all of convention was a competition; students spent time socializing at nightly dances, exchanging ideas at officer dinners, and learning about various topics including beekeeping and Virgil at colloquiums.
Marie Musumeci said, “Nationals is truly a unique experience, an amazing experience, never to be forgotten by those who attend.”
I really enjoyed your article. Nice hook sentence and great use of quotes.
Btw, go Loyola! 🙂