THAT'S REAL BRAIN POWER! : EL CAMINO WINS DECATHLON.

Byline: Eric Wahlgren Daily News Staff Writer

El Camino Real High School Sunday held on to its crown in a statewide brainpower contest, beating out 42 other schools in the fiercely competitive California Academic Decathlon for the second year in a row.

Blowing away the second-place finisher, Orange County's Trabuco Hills High School, the Woodland Hills school again will represent the state at the national Academic Decathlon, this year in St. George, Utah, beginning April 17.

The announcement of El Camino's victory capped a rowdy awards banquet at a City of Industry hotel Sunday - a day after the school tied Fresno's Edison High School for first place in the grueling Super Quiz competition.

``This is unbelievable,'' said El Camino team member Steve Chae, shaking his head as his teammates around him slapped high-fives and locked in group hugs. ``It's just great. It's hard for me to speak right now.''

The other two local teams in the statewide tournament, Simi Valley High and Alemany High in Mission Hills, also demonstrated some serious academic prowess, placing fifth and sixth in California, respectively.

``We were kind of expecting a little better, but fifth is still really great,'' said Simi Valley team member Brian Mercurio, a 17-year-old senior.

Northridge resident John Sitko, a member of the Alemany team, said he was sorry this year's competition was over for the Mission Hills school - even though preparation required marathon study hours.

``I'm going to miss my team,'' said the 17-year-old senior.

El Camino was clearly the champ Sunday with the nine-member team amassing 49,501 points out of a total of 60,000 in 10 grueling academic tests that included mathematics, science and essay-writing.

Trabuco Hills followed with 46,315 points, while third-place finisher Edison High scored 46,090 points.

El Camino co-coach David Roberson said his team had faced tough competition in the two-day battle of the brains that began on Friday, leaving him uncertain about the school's chances until the final tallies were announced.

Although El Camino had shined in the point-rich Super Quiz, which involves all nine teammates, during Sunday's ceremony, team members from Edison and Trabuco were walking away with medals in loads of individual events.

But when it came time to award the top overall scorers in all the individual events, El Camino Brainiacs took the gold in each of the three competition categories set up for A, B and C students, helping clinch the team's victory.

``We knew the other teams were working as hard as we were, and we just kept on studying,'' said Roberson, reflecting on his team's success. ``We never let up.''

Despite the second-place finish, Trabuco Hills' coach Janet Hooper said she was thrilled by her team's performance in the contest that tested students' knowledge on the information revolution.

She wished El Camino team members all the best at the National Decathlon.

``They're excellent,'' Hooper said. ``We all hope they win at nationals.''

Although there were no cheesy dance numbers and no gushing speeches, Sunday's event had much of the glitz of the Academy Awards with spotlights training on the winners, who were dressed to the nines for the occasion.

``I've just spoken to the producer,'' said media personality Mario Machado, the event's master of ceremonies at the Industry Hills Sheraton. ``Screaming, stomping, yelping are all acceptable.''

Scream, stomp and yelp for their teammates they did.

``It's not just about the medals,'' said 17-year-old Steve, arguably one of the brightest students in the state as he was the top scorer in the A-student category. ``The other eight people on the team have really become like a family.''

El Camino team member Michael Montgomery, the state's second top scorer in the C-student category, said Sunday's victory was sweet after the high school's soccer team took second place in the state championships a week before.

``It makes up for last weekend,'' said the 16-year-old West Hills resident, who is the soccer team captain.

Michal Engelman, a 17-year-old El Camino student from West Hills, said the sacrifices she made for the team, including staying after school until 10 p.m. and studying six days a week, were all worth it.

``We were really scared that we might not win for a few minutes there, so I'm happy we worked so hard,'' she said.

Other El Camino teammates are Robert Magee, the state's overall top scorer in the C-student category; Tamara Miller, the state's gold medalist in the B-student category; Jackie Moses; Roger Rees; Dawn Robinson; and Adi Zarchi.

The team members returned to their school yard Sunday from their long weekend with no welcoming party in sight - only four news cameramen and two reporters.

It was team member Jackie Moses' birthday. Her parents were home planning a combination birthday and celebration party.

``We're going to take a break and party down,'' said team member Adi, 16.

Roberson said he would give the team members 10 days off before asking them to hit the books again in preparation for the national academic slugfest in Utah.

``They just need to get away from the pressure,'' Roberson said.

Roberson said the team will have another shot at the national crown, as the Texas high school that beat El Camino last year did not make it to the finals this year.

Steve said that Sunday's victory did come at a price, citing his need to give up playing the piano and participating in a church youth group.

``It more or less totally sabotages your social life,'' Steve said.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

PHOTO (1 -- color) Coach David Roberson, left, whoops it up with winning team members Roger Rees, center, and Robert Magee.

(2 -- color) An emotional Steve Chae is congratulated by his mother, left, on Sunday.

(3) El Camino's Robert Magee, bronze winner, left, silver winner Roger Rees, and gold winner Michael Montgomery take the winner's stand after sweeping the language and literature individual division.

Michael Owen Baker/Daily News