The Mexico Academic Team just completed the most successful season in school history but the fun isn’t over yet.
Next month, the team will travel to Chicago, IL to compete in the …
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The Mexico Academic Team just completed the most successful season in school history but the fun isn’t over yet.
Next month, the team will travel to Chicago, IL to compete in the Partnership for Academic Excellence (PACE) national competition. Last year the team participated in the event and ranked 47th out of more than 70 teams with a 3-13 record. Head Coach Dale Schenewerk told the Ledger it was good preparation for this year.
“We were thrilled to get to go for the first time last year just so we could get a sense of what we had to look forward to,” Schenewerk said. “This year we’re coming out gunning.”
Schenewerk said this year’s team expects to finish in the top 30 at the PACE tournament. He expects the experience from last year combined with this year’s long run will slow things down for his kids.
“They’re not intimidated,” Schenewerk said. “They’re not looking at it as hey, ‘This is another tournament. We’re coming to nationals to make our mark.
Schenewerk said the team also got a lot of support this year from parents and fans. He said he didn’t expect the size of the crowd Mexico had at the state tournament.
“The fanfare wasn’t something I was expecting,” Schenewerk said. “We probably had the largest fan base there. The families have been nothing but supportive and it shows them what their kids can do.”
Schenewerk told the Ledger his kids put in a lot of work to be this successful. The Academic Team practices every day after school.
“If you think about the typical sports season they get everyday practice for about two or three months,” Schenewerk said. “All these kids have put in that same level of effort the entire school year.”
Two of the team’s top scorers at the state tournament were sophomores this year including top scorer Camden Williams, who is ranked 16th nationally. Schenewerk said his team may practice every day but the success comes from kids putting in the extra work.
We’ve got some kids who are like your Michael Jordans,” Schenewerk said. “You know they don’t stop when they’re done with practice. They go the extra mile.”
Schenewerk said Williams helps set the tone for the rest of the team.
“He continues to push himself and he does the research,” Schenewerk said. “He looks at the things that he knows we can improve on and help the team. It’s just crazy how much time that kid puts in.”
The Academic Team will head to Chicago June 10-11 for the PACE competition.
