Students from 15 Ocean State high schools struck gold, silver and bronze in the 41st annual Rhode Island Academic Decathlon held Sunday at Bryant University.

“We ran out of medals,” said an astonished Frank Lenox, Sunday night following an awards ceremony where North Kingstown took the honors of representing the state in the United States Academic Decathlon to be held April 25-27 in Pittsburgh.

This was a first of firsts for North Kingstown in the competition open to all Rhode Island high schools. North Kingstown also took first in the Super Quiz of the event tying with Johnston High School. Toll Gate placed second in the Super Quiz followed by Cranston West.

Wheeler School placed second overall, followed by last year’s winning team East Greenwich in third and Bishop Hendricken in fourth. Johnston placed fifth with team members taking home 18 medals.

“We had so many ties,” Lenox said explaining the volume of medals awarded to competitors in each of the decathlon’s three divisions representing students with A, B and C grade point averages. In addition to multiple choice questions, students are graded on essay and speech and interview. Super Quiz results are not included in determining the state winner.

Based on averages over 40 years, RIAD orders about 135 medals, of which 110 are dated and the balance undated to be used in the event of ties. Over the years a reserve of more than 40 medals were reserved for ties. That medal reserve was drained this year.

Not all of the awards went to students.

Cranston West Coach Christine Luther-Morris was presented the Augustine Capotosto Coach of the Year Award. Capotosto, Chairman of the Rhode Island Board of Regents for Higher Education/Secondary Education was a founder of the Rhode Island competition, serving as the organization’s vice president before his death.

In making the presentation, Cranston Sen. Hanna Gallo, a member of the decathlon board, said Morris, “personifies the word coach. She builds confidence and motivation through direction, inspiration and devotion to team members and the team. Perhaps most telling, West students picked her to start an Academic Decathlon team in 2008. She has admirably carried that banner ever since.”

The following Johnston students received 2024 Academic Decathlon medals: Jannelle Nunez, gold in literature, silver in music and bronze in math; Arianna Dandy, gold in literature, silver in speech and interview; Elliott Cartesi, gold in music and silver in art; Sofia China bronze medals in literature, math, and speech; Logan Brennan, bronze medals in speech and music; Robert Graham, gold in music; Cameron Ferrara, a bronze in economics; Connor Niles, a bronze in economics; and alternate team member Neko Mahony won a silver medal in social science and a bronze in science.