From Academic Decathlon Team Player to Coach

 
William Broderick-Villa (far left)

Oakdale High School’s Academic Decathlon team is a tough competitor.  Last year they placed first in Stanislaus County’s competition, and proceeded to the state finals.  This year, they hope to do it again. 
 

Former Oakdale Academic Decathlon competitor William Broderick-Villa remembers when Oakdale transformed from a losing to a winning team.  The year was 1997, and he was a junior in high school.  “Few of us invested much time or effort in the decathlon outside of class,” he said.  “We were just aiming for a step above bottom rung, and not much more.”   About a week and a half before the competition, Broderick-Villa and his teammates held a study session.  “As we lay sprawled out on the carpet at a teammate’s house, Mrs. Gobel [our coach] quizzed us,” he said.  “Our performance did not impress her, and I was ashamed.  I’ve always had an inordinate need to please teachers – especially the good ones.  Mrs. Gobel was one of the most fascinating, passionate and liveliest teachers I’d ever known.”  From that day until the competition, Broderick-Villa studied every chance he got – often staying up until 3:00 in the morning.
 

 “As it turned out, we did better in the competition than anyone expected – even ourselves,” he said.  “Nearly everyone on our team received medals, and I ended up with the county’s second highest overall score.  And, Oakdale shocked everyone by placing second in the county!”
 

After high school, Broderick-Villa attended the University of Southern California.  Today he is a teacher at Waterford High School……..and he is also the school’s Academic Decathlon coach.  “From this side of the game, I’m beginning to appreciate just how much work goes into coaching 20 students in 10 subjects,” he said.  “I hope that someday I will make as much of a difference in the lives of my students, as my Academic Decathlon coach, Mrs. Gobel, made in mine.”